A bunch of fractional CA “gold coins” genuine or not?

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KollectorKing
KollectorKing Posts: 4,820 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited May 5, 2018 6:55AM in U.S. Coin Forum

If not, are they made of gold?

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  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    While I certainly cannot make really conclusive decisions based on those pictures ... and would not be able to on some anyway.... the last one.. to viewers right, I have seen noted as fake in other threads over the years. Cheers, RickO

  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,164 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Modern (circa 1950's - 60's) fantasies.

    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.
  • BIGAL2749
    BIGAL2749 Posts: 742 ✭✭✭✭
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    fakes and no gold

  • Paradisefound
    Paradisefound Posts: 8,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 5, 2018 9:54AM
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    They look too perfectly un-circulated to be genuine IMHO MS 64 >:)?

  • RogerB
    RogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Cheap tourist junk.

  • Namvet69
    Namvet69 Posts: 9,423 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Keep a small magnet in your pocket. Peace Roy

    BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW

  • jcping
    jcping Posts: 2,649 ✭✭✭
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    Not 19th century CA fractional gold tokens.

    an SLQ and Ike dollars lover
  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Namvet69 said:
    Keep a small magnet in your pocket. Peace Roy

    Most are brass and hence not magnetic.

    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

  • Smudge
    Smudge Posts: 10,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 5, 2018 11:47AM
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    If they don't have dol or dollar on the reverse they are for sure fake. If they do they still may be. If fake likely little or no gold, maybe plated. Tourist trinkets.

  • jcping
    jcping Posts: 2,649 ✭✭✭
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    @Smudge said:
    If they don't have dol or dollar on the reverse they are for sure fake. If they do they still may be. If fake likely little or no gold, maybe plated. Tourist trinkets.

    That’s not true. Between 1869 and 1882, many fractional gold tokens were made without denominations and most of them shared same obverse dies as they were used on CSDG (California small denominations gold). I can name 35-40 of them that either used CSDG obverse dies or had linkage with them.

    an SLQ and Ike dollars lover
  • Smudge
    Smudge Posts: 10,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 5, 2018 1:34PM
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    I am not an expert, but was referring more to fractionals from Gold Rush times like the 1850's.

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @jcping said:

    @Smudge said:
    If they don't have dol or dollar on the reverse they are for sure fake. If they do they still may be. If fake likely little or no gold, maybe plated. Tourist trinkets.

    That’s not true. Between 1869 and 1882, many fractional gold tokens were made without denominations and most of them shared same obverse dies as they were used on CSDG (California small denominations gold). I can name 35-40 of them that either used CSDG obverse dies or had linkage with them.

    You're referring to the period 3 coins that were made after 1882 frequently using old dies that were dated prior to 1882.

    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

  • Smudge
    Smudge Posts: 10,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Just be careful with those things. I let the tpgs make those calls.

  • jcping
    jcping Posts: 2,649 ✭✭✭
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    @PerryHall said:

    @jcping said:

    @Smudge said:
    If they don't have dol or dollar on the reverse they are for sure fake. If they do they still may be. If fake likely little or no gold, maybe plated. Tourist trinkets.

    That’s not true. Between 1869 and 1882, many fractional gold tokens were made without denominations and most of them shared same obverse dies as they were used on CSDG (California small denominations gold). I can name 35-40 of them that either used CSDG obverse dies or had linkage with them.

    You're referring to the period 3 coins that were made after 1882 frequently using old dies that were dated prior to 1882.

    No, I did not refer to post 1882 period 3 tokens. I was told there are more than 3000+ different ones. I was talking about the tokens made between 1872 and 1882 that shared obverse dies with period 2 CSDG (California small denominations gold). I called them CNDG (California no denomination gold). There are about 35-40 known varieties and many of them are very rare (R8 to unique) and many were documented in BG-2 books.

    an SLQ and Ike dollars lover
  • Wil1858
    Wil1858 Posts: 53 ✭✭✭
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    ...not with a ten foot...

  • skier07
    skier07 Posts: 4,833 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    99% of these are fake

  • Timbuk3
    Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    :'( !!!

    Timbuk3
  • Insider2
    Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Namvet69 said:
    Keep a small magnet in your pocket. Peace Roy

    Why is that? Have you found any of these CA Fractional Replicas to be magnetic. I'll see if I can find a magnetic one in the batch of about twenty I have. :wink:

  • Insider2
    Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @skier07 said:
    99% of these are fake

    ???

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Insider2 said:

    @skier07 said:
    99% of these are fake

    ???

    Most fakes are fantasy coins produced mostly in the 1960's. These fantasy coins have designs that don't match any of the originals which are shown in the standard reference for this series---"Small Denomination California Gold Coins" by Walter Breen and Ron Gillio. I have yet to see a fake that matches any of the coins in this reference book. Also, these coins are being slabbed by the major grading services so there are plenty available with guarantees of authenticity.

    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

  • keets
    keets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    most of these Modern fakes were issued by someone in the Cleveland, Ohio area, so we see a lot of them. they are typically crude and plated . I usually just reject them but if a customer insists I will scratch and check with acid for them. most people are a little disheartened but not surprised.

  • RogerB
    RogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    RE: "...but if a customer insists I will scratch and check with acid for them. most people are a little disheartened but not surprised."

    Doesn't that hurt the customer? Do you scratch their arm or have the company cat do it? :)

  • Insider2
    Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Insider2 said:

    @Namvet69 said:
    Keep a small magnet in your pocket. Peace Roy

    Why is that? Have you found any of these CA Fractional Replicas to be magnetic. I'll see if I can find a magnetic one in the batch of about twenty I have. :wink:

    I tested all I have. As I expected, none were magnetic.

  • Treashunt
    Treashunt Posts: 6,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @skier07 said:
    99% of these are fake

    5 X 99%= 4.95 are fake and .05 of one is real?

    Frank

    BHNC #203

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