California Gold Question

JLBCoins · October 16, 2020 8:35AM

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!

thebeav · October 16, 2020 8:42AM

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/

jabba · October 16, 2020 8:44AM

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

JLBCoins · October 16, 2020 8:54AM

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.

TurtleCat · October 16, 2020 9:03AM

My understanding is many of the pieces were made long after the gold rush in the later 1800s for collectors and jewelry.

calgolddiver · October 16, 2020 10:06AM

Here is a great reference and history book

thebeav · October 16, 2020 10:08AM

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

ricko · October 16, 2020 10:36AM

Get the above reference books.... Intriguing history of the California gold .....yours is not a coin, as stated above. Cheers, RickO

ms70 · October 16, 2020 10:38AM

Well you certainly started out on a high note with a real beauty! I love it.

ThreeCentSilverFL · October 16, 2020 10:48AM

I recently picked one up for myself. This one is a 25c piece. 1872/1 overdate variety.

JLBCoins · October 16, 2020 12:46PM

@ThreeCentSilverFL said:
I recently picked one up for myself. This one is a 25c piece. 1872/1 overdate variety.

That's a nice one!

JLBCoins · October 16, 2020 12:47PM

@ricko said:
Get the above reference books.... Intriguing history of the California gold .....yours is not a coin, as stated above. Cheers, RickO

Yeah, this is a really awesome looking book. I will look for it to add to my library

California Gold Question

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