Calling all you california fractional experts......
23Pairer
Posts: 911 ✭✭✭
My friend just received his grade on submission of this 1/4 dollar round California fractional. He (and I) would like to learn about this coin, and I know someone out there can tell us where to look for population and valuation tables? Thank you all in advance.
Date, mintmark 1871
Denomination 25C
Variety BG-856A
Country The United States of America
Grade MS63
Holder Type PCGS Gold Shield
Population 1
Pop Higher 0
Bob
12
Comments
Breen/Gillio is the main reference. Yours was made by Hershfield & Mitchell in Kansas. It appears to be rare. and yours is in great condition.
PCGS has the pop reports. This are 2 known and graded by PCGS !! A very nice and rare piece. Congratulations !!!
Breen Gillio 2nd edition is a good reference and this could be the plate coin if still unique (pop report now says 2).
https://www.amazon.com/California-Pioneer-Fractional-Walter-Breen/dp/0943161908
@23Pairer
Did your friend resubmit the 62 and upgrade or is this a new find for the 63 ?
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
@23Pairer
Not quite what you are looking for but a few threads on some of the history of Cal gold by @RogerB.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1010077/1848-cal-quarter-eagle-the-letter-behind-the-coin
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1010157/1848-cal-quarter-eagle-division-and-use-of-war-department-gold
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1010272/1848-cal-quarter-eagles-were-evidently-well-known-with-weeks-of-delivery
Outstanding Cal. fractional.
An entire Type that I know very little about.
I think you're a little confused @Hemispherical .
Completely different animal.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
Very nice example!
My YouTube Channel
You are correct! Completely different by $2.25. Sorry.
excellent site for reference :
http://www.calgoldonline.com/forums/index.php?act=home
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
Here's a crazy question: If this stuff is made in Kansas et al why do they call it California Fractional gold?
That site has been gone for many years now.....unfortunately......
@thebeav
bummer ... thx for the update
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
Why do they call it baked Alaska when I order it in Los Angeles?
Beautiful coin!
Check out my current listings: https://ebay.com/sch/khunt/m.html?_ipg=200&_sop=12&_rdc=1
@AlexinPA
https://coinsite.com/us-fractional-gold-coins/
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
Greed.
Companies tried to foist overvalued, low-grade gold tokens off on the gullible by giving them a legal date, or claiming they were made in California for local use. Mint assays consistently showed the pieces were worth half or less than the claimed value.
The jewelry tokens were made to cater to makers of cheap baubles that were even below the use of gold dollars.
Thanks to calgolddiver and Roger B for their very enlightening information. You can always count on this forum to get a worthwhile answer.
Very interesting gold coin... I have never seen a real one at a show or shop... only pictures. Must be a tiny piece... Cheers, RickO
Hershfield & Mitchell, yes they were manufacturing jewelers out of Leavenworth
Kansas....they had a large eagle sign perched over their business....
little known facts....their 1871 half dollars were determined by assay to be worth only 17 cents...
their "coins" were placed into circulation as prizes in candy packages available onboard railroad
cars
mintage halves and quarters together around 30,000....so why such a low survival rate?
The Feds or U.S. Attorney of Atchison Kansas busted them....
thus apparently, the vast majority of their pieces found the melting pot... I don't think they went to trial....
their defense would simply be that they were manufacturing charms not coins...
another method of circulation for these types of pieces from this time period was for a confidence
man to offer them to railroad passengers as "California currency" for pigeons heading out to California.
They would give the passenger a great exchange rate for his currency...because the con man
knew what the intrinsic value of these pieces was...and the passenger thought he was getting a
great deal....
thus the "California gold" and Leavenworth, Kansas connection....the railroad....
valuation would of course be based on how nice the piece is....and if the population
remains extremely low -3....demand side....thin market....
I don't know remember what the Roe specimen brought....
if the right collector, finds the piece, he might step up to the plate...
I don't collect these pieces....I helped put together the second edition of the Breen Gillio
reference book.....but that was some time ago....and my focus was largely on Period 1.
@CaptainBlunt said: "I helped put together the second edition of the Breen Gillio reference book..."
What are your
initials?