California Gold Question
JLBCoins
Posts: 18 ✭✭
I purchased this yesterday, honestly just on a whim because it struck my interest. I know nothing about these fractional gold pieces from the west. I was trying to find some information about them but couldn't really find the "story" about them. I read a bunch about the gold act of 1864 and how it wasn't enforced in the west until 1883. Anyone have a link or a book recommendation for more information about these? Is it real gold? I didn't pay a ton for it, just liked it.
Thanks!
Store: JLBCoins.com
1
Comments
That's a nice example of a charm or a token. Not to be confused with a coin, which has a denomination. Either 25, or 50 cents or a dollar. Yours is also gold, usually 10 karat or so....
Mike Locke has a website devoted to this stuff, although it's tricky to navigate.
calgoldcoin.com/
There was no mint out west so private companies took gold in from prospectors and turned them into private issued coins it’s not going to be pure gold they didn’t refine the gold so there are impurities
Our host has some good info for free
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/category/california-fractional-gold-1852-1882/1659
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
Thanks for the website links and info. So were these tokens used as currency? Or were they for collectors? Also, if it had a denomination, would that mean that it was made by a government sanctioned mint? sorry for all the questions, these coins/tokens are fascinating.
Store: JLBCoins.com
My understanding is many of the pieces were made long after the gold rush in the later 1800s for collectors and jewelry.
Here is a great reference and history book
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), Proofcollection, Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
The earlier 'coins' with denominations, were used as currency.
The 'charms' or 'tokens', like your piece, were made for jewelry or for souvenirs.....
See Hart's "Coins of the Golden West"......
https://filmsgraded.com/mehart/hartset.htm
Get the above reference books.... Intriguing history of the California gold .....yours is not a coin, as stated above. Cheers, RickO
Well you certainly started out on a high note with a real beauty! I love it.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
I recently picked one up for myself. This one is a 25c piece. 1872/1 overdate variety.
That's a nice one!
Store: JLBCoins.com
Yeah, this is a really awesome looking book. I will look for it to add to my library
Store: JLBCoins.com