How much gold in 1/2 california token

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coinandcurrency242
coinandcurrency242 Posts: 1,992 ✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I cannot seem to find online how much gold is in a 1/2 gold token from california. Coin is liberty/ bear octagon and 11.3 mm. Any help on gold weight (agw) would be awesome!

Positive BST as a seller: Namvet69, Lordmarcovan, Bigjpst, Soldi, mustanggt, CoinHoader, moursund, SufinxHi, al410, JWP

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  • Weiss
    Weiss Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 30, 2021 7:52PM
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    If there is no denomination (1/2_ dollar_, 1/4 dollar, 1/2 DOL., 1/4 D.), especially if there is a bear on the reverse, it is almost certainly a token / fake / facsimile and is gold plated at best.

    https://www.coinworld.com/voices/gerald-tebben/fake_california_gold.html

    We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
    --Severian the Lame
  • coinandcurrency242
    coinandcurrency242 Posts: 1,992 ✭✭✭✭
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    Mine is graded by ngc and is 1/2

    Positive BST as a seller: Namvet69, Lordmarcovan, Bigjpst, Soldi, mustanggt, CoinHoader, moursund, SufinxHi, al410, JWP

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Weiss said:
    If there is no denomination (1/2_ dollar_, 1/4 dollar, 1/2 DOL., 1/4 D.), especially if there is a bear on the reverse, it is almost certainly a token / fake / facsimile and is gold plated at best.

    https://www.coinworld.com/voices/gerald-tebben/fake_california_gold.html

    We had some that tested as 14 karat.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 30, 2021 8:14PM
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    @coinandcurrency242 said:
    Mine is graded by ngc and is 1/2

    Slabbed as a token? Does it have a BG number?

    NGC does slab the "tokens" which are indeterminate in composition and could be plated as mentioned above.

    Did you know Stacks Bowers is having an auction featuring "1859" California Gold Token. Round 1/2. Liberty / Bear #2b. MS-67 (NGC).

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • coinandcurrency242
    coinandcurrency242 Posts: 1,992 ✭✭✭✭
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    @jmlanzaf said:

    @coinandcurrency242 said:
    Mine is graded by ngc and is 1/2

    Slabbed as a token? Does it have a BG number?

    NGC does slab the "tokens" which are indeterminate in composition and could be plated as mentioned above.

    Did you know Stacks Bowers is having an auction featuring "1859" California Gold Token. Round 1/2. Liberty / Bear #2b. MS-67 (NGC).

    They had quite a few today. I ended up getting one on an impulse buy lol!

    Positive BST as a seller: Namvet69, Lordmarcovan, Bigjpst, Soldi, mustanggt, CoinHoader, moursund, SufinxHi, al410, JWP

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    They may have no gold at all.

    http://www.calgoldcoin.com/oldhtml/bears.htm

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @coinandcurrency242 said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @coinandcurrency242 said:
    Mine is graded by ngc and is 1/2

    Slabbed as a token? Does it have a BG number?

    NGC does slab the "tokens" which are indeterminate in composition and could be plated as mentioned above.

    Did you know Stacks Bowers is having an auction featuring "1859" California Gold Token. Round 1/2. Liberty / Bear #2b. MS-67 (NGC).

    They had quite a few today. I ended up getting one on an impulse buy lol!

    Yes, I saw them. Quite high grade.
    I almost bid myself. It's just so hard to know about most of them. The souvenirs were made over about 100 years by multiple sources.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • coinandcurrency242
    coinandcurrency242 Posts: 1,992 ✭✭✭✭
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    @jmlanzaf said:
    They may have no gold at all.

    http://www.calgoldcoin.com/oldhtml/bears.htm

    Oops! At least I know my type 2 gold dollar I won has gold :smile:

    Positive BST as a seller: Namvet69, Lordmarcovan, Bigjpst, Soldi, mustanggt, CoinHoader, moursund, SufinxHi, al410, JWP

  • coinandcurrency242
    coinandcurrency242 Posts: 1,992 ✭✭✭✭
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    @jmlanzaf said:

    @coinandcurrency242 said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @coinandcurrency242 said:
    Mine is graded by ngc and is 1/2

    Slabbed as a token? Does it have a BG number?

    NGC does slab the "tokens" which are indeterminate in composition and could be plated as mentioned above.

    Did you know Stacks Bowers is having an auction featuring "1859" California Gold Token. Round 1/2. Liberty / Bear #2b. MS-67 (NGC).

    They had quite a few today. I ended up getting one on an impulse buy lol!

    Yes, I saw them. Quite high grade.
    I almost bid myself. It's just so hard to know about most of them. The souvenirs were made over about 100 years by multiple sources.

    Mine was 1858 and top pop. Ms 66. Gotta be worth something. If you were tempted, that makes me feel better about buying one lol!

    Positive BST as a seller: Namvet69, Lordmarcovan, Bigjpst, Soldi, mustanggt, CoinHoader, moursund, SufinxHi, al410, JWP

  • coinandcurrency242
    coinandcurrency242 Posts: 1,992 ✭✭✭✭
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    @jmlanzaf

    I thought you mind find it interesting. Here is one ungraded that sold at pristine auction house.

    https://www.pristineauction.com/a1138778-1857-12-Dollar-Bear-California-Gold-Piece-Coin

    Positive BST as a seller: Namvet69, Lordmarcovan, Bigjpst, Soldi, mustanggt, CoinHoader, moursund, SufinxHi, al410, JWP

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @coinandcurrency242 said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @coinandcurrency242 said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @coinandcurrency242 said:
    Mine is graded by ngc and is 1/2

    Slabbed as a token? Does it have a BG number?

    NGC does slab the "tokens" which are indeterminate in composition and could be plated as mentioned above.

    Did you know Stacks Bowers is having an auction featuring "1859" California Gold Token. Round 1/2. Liberty / Bear #2b. MS-67 (NGC).

    They had quite a few today. I ended up getting one on an impulse buy lol!

    Yes, I saw them. Quite high grade.
    I almost bid myself. It's just so hard to know about most of them. The souvenirs were made over about 100 years by multiple sources.

    Mine was 1858 and top pop. Ms 66. Gotta be worth something. If you were tempted, that makes me feel better about buying one lol!

    They are dated 1858, but could have been made in the 1960s. Just really hard to know.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • JimTyler
    JimTyler Posts: 4,100 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    When I worked in a shop mid 1990’s those tokens came in a set, best guess 8 to 10 tokens, in a fancy capital holder type holder . They retailed for about 8 bucks.

  • thebeav
    thebeav Posts: 4,115 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 1, 2021 1:24AM
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    @JimTyler said:
    When I worked in a shop mid 1990’s those tokens came in a set, best guess 8 to 10 tokens, in a fancy capital holder type holder . They retailed for about 8 bucks.

    Those were the modern, gold plated replica tokens. NGC does not certify them at all.

    My Ebay Coin Store
  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,749 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It depends on the time period they were made and who manufactured them. Most made in the 1960's and later are gold plated brass or just plain brass.

    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

  • Meltdown
    Meltdown Posts: 9,283 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Here's my 1960's set. They look pretty nice for a novelty.


  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Meltdown said:
    Here's my 1960's set. They look pretty nice for a novelty.

    Very cool. They are what they are. No need to think of them as anything but a fun little collectible.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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