1880 1/4 Cal Gold - Need Help from the Experts

Windycity

I could use some help from the experts identifying this 1880 Cal Gold coin. It's an round Indian/Wreath with star but that's as far as I can get - I don't think it is the 1/4 over 1/2 variety but not certain. Anyone know the BG number and rarity? Common?

Sunshine Rare Coins

fake - they never say "CAL GOLD" on the reverse

mariner67

<< <i>fake >>

PerryHall

Looks real to me. These coins were general quite crude which is part of their charm.

Edited to add that since this specimen doesn't have a denomination it is actually a token.

DeliaBug

It is a token. The BG-854 description has info on this.

AUandAG

To be real it needs a denomination like "dollar"

Windycity

I understand it is a token but also I'm under the belief it is a token from the period and therefore collectible.

CaptHenway

Looks like one of the souvenir tokens made between the late 19th century and the 1920's. Still collectible as such.

AMRC

<< <i>I understand it is a token but also I'm under the belief it is a token from the period and therefore collectible. >>



In order for something to be collectible it just has to exist. Somebody, somewhere collects "it"

PerryHall

<< <i>Looks like one of the souvenir tokens made between the late 19th century and the 1920's. Still collectible as such. >>



Agree. The Secret Service shut down the production of California small denomination gold coins in 1882 but there was still a demand so they (most were San Francisco jewelers) dropped the denomination and sold them as tokens. Many used dies that were originally also used for the coins produced earlier. I have several PCGS slabbed California small denomination gold coins and this token definitely looks like the coins produced in this era. Of course the tokens aren't worth as much as similar coins from this era but they aren't junk and are certainly collectable due to their age and their association with "the old west". Also, the fact that they are made of gold certainly doesn't hurt.

ricko

Nice... would be a good addition to a period collection... Cheers, RickO

CaptHenway

Mike Locke is "Da Man" when it comes to small gold and golden-colored tokens. I used to accumulate pieces like yours and every now and then send him a care package. Was always happy with what he paid.

Here is his website. You can probably find out something about it in here.

TD

Linky

lockem

The illustrated piece is a California Gold Souvenir Token made by Herman Brand in the 1880-1890 time frame. It is less of a fake than the non-circulating denominated pieces that were made in the 1870s and 1880s that are generally accepted as genuine.

It does not have a BG number since California Pioneer Fractional Gold explicitly only lists denominated issues.

I consider this variety to be about Rarity 4 on the Sheldon scale, as used by Breen and Gillio. It is not the 1/4 over 1/2 variety. It is illustrated on my website.

--
Mike Locke California Gold

Windycity

Mike,

Thank you for the identification and information!!

CaptHenway

Hey there, Mike. Turn on your PM function.
Tom DeLorey

luckybucks

Nice token. The first one I have ever seen.

CaptHenway

ttt for demonstration purposes