Any coin people around?

Kurtman9

My son was looking through a coin collection that his grandmother gave him and he found a $10 coin from 1850 - "California Gold... 1850... Ten Dollars"; there is a cowboy riding a horse on the front; on the back, its says: Baldwin & Co.... San Franscisco with an eagle showing.

I searched ebay, but did not find anything like it.

Anyone know if this is a rare coin and/or how much it might be worth?

Thanks.
Kurt

Bernaner

Click on NAVIGATION: and go to the coin forum. Probably should post a scan.

bxb

Kurt-

This sounds like a Baldwin and Co territorial gold piece. Depending on its condition, if it is not a fake, it is worth many thousands of dollars.

Do not clean it, do not scratch it, do not touch the surfaces (touch edges only); take it ASAP to your nearest coin dealer for authentication.

jimq112

<< <i>Kurt-

This sounds like a Baldwin and Co territorial gold piece. Depending on its condition, if it is not a fake, it is worth many thousands of dollars.

Do not clean it, do not scratch it, do not touch the surfaces (touch edges only); take it ASAP to your nearest coin dealer for authentication. >>



And do not under any circumstances sell it to the nearest coin dealer when you take it there!

Kurtman9

originalisbest

Just a repro, unfortunately. Don't feel too disappointed - the actual coin is quite rare, and they made MANY rough repros of it. The odds that your piece was genuine would've been approaching the odds of me winning the multi-mils lotto.

Link to a pic of an authentic one (to show the difference)

bxb

Sorry, Kurt.

What you've got there is a die cast copy, and it's not gold either.

Spahnfan

It is a copy or reproduction. I have several copies of these type of reproductions. If you look at the edge of the coin you should see a seam running around the edge. Genuine coins do not have such a seam.

Kurtman9

Thanks guys. I thought it might be a fake. Oh well, at least we didn't pay anything for it!