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

WindycityWindycity Posts: 3,613 ✭✭✭✭✭
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?

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<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.mullencoins.com">Mullen Coins Website - Windycity Coin website

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    Sunshine Rare CoinsSunshine Rare Coins Posts: 2,363 ✭✭✭✭✭
    fake - they never say "CAL GOLD" on the reverse
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    mariner67mariner67 Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭


    << <i>fake >>



    image
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    PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,850 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

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    It is a token. The BG-854 description has info on this.
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    AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 25,053 ✭✭✭✭✭
    To be real it needs a denomination like "dollar"
    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com
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    WindycityWindycity Posts: 3,613 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I understand it is a token but also I'm under the belief it is a token from the period and therefore collectible.
    <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.mullencoins.com">Mullen Coins Website - Windycity Coin website
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    CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 34,292 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Looks like one of the souvenir tokens made between the late 19th century and the 1920's. Still collectible as such.
    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
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    AMRCAMRC Posts: 4,280 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <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"
    MLAeBayNumismatics: "The greatest hobby in the world!"
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    PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,850 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <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.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

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    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nice... would be a good addition to a period collection... Cheers, RickO
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    CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 34,292 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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
    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
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    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
    Mike Locke California Gold
    www.calgoldcoin.com
    lockem@calgoldcoin.com
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    WindycityWindycity Posts: 3,613 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Mike,

    Thank you for the identification and information!!
    <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.mullencoins.com">Mullen Coins Website - Windycity Coin website
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    CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 34,292 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hey there, Mike. Turn on your PM function.
    Tom DeLorey
    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
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    luckybucksluckybucks Posts: 1,318 ✭✭✭
    Nice token. The first one I have ever seen.
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    CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 34,292 ✭✭✭✭✭
    ttt for demonstration purposes
    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.

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