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Real or fake California fractional gold
erwindoc
Posts: 5,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
From my mother-in-laws estate. Chain and holder are 14k. I suspect coin is not real, but wanted more opinions.
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Not a real coin.
Some are made of low grade gold. Have it tested
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
there are plated junk stuff and there are "tribute" pieces that are gold but not period pieces. these need expert opinions.
Absolutely not a genuine California fractional. It has every appearance of being quite modern.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
"if it has a bear, beware"
https://boards.ngccoin.com/topic/256987-need-help-with-a-14-california-gold-with-bear-is-it-real/
No dollar or dol, or denomination beyond 1/2 is also a tell. Token.
The girlfriend would like that
all of the above responses are correct.
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), DesertMoon, Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Proofcollection, Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
Right - the Bear gives it away..............
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
does it have gold content?
Most replicas are brass with some being gold plated. Most were made in the 1960's and were backdated to the goldrush era. Check out PCGS Coin Facts where there is a section listing all the known genuine California small denomination gold coins by BG (Breen-Gillio) number. They show pics of each genuine coin and if your coin isn't shown, it probably isn't a real coin.
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
By itself, a bear is not the definitive identifier for genuine 'charm' pieces. Those with a bear are not going to be 'coins', but they may be gold 'charms or tokens' . As such, they can have decent value. Even though this one may be priced a bit high, but as a 66, maybe not.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/356954347952?_skw=cal+gold+charm&itmmeta=01KZA7HSVE9CMBFBE0EABDRRXG&hash=item531c2319b0:g:Yc4AAOSwx7BoMLGs&itmprp=enc:AQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xD/1YJpqHbvm/iooGGpdPVLegfvYOpElwLCtyxJustEesp3YZMl5+E98fY981dE80tL7al3v0dQpZpYEG9rmvwZbekEpFSAUkfvMBZBjjfnTe6B3bKNo8CbrLKnzKa3VeOLy1N5THJPfatSrlFU/pUrT/mZ82Mz5ia6V5deCWeSP4DsCbz9FajRoSTBJK4oDb5heaLEJhyq80h4rqEDl6Lod3M5bIHOR2D3HIhG39w8zemaQbhmtAJy+YS4w+++lKicU55EmKExjGxEFPVBAawzLk0n/4UukRH/4oSn3lyxqg==|tkp:Bk9SR_Sdx8f6Zw
It’s a pretty long list.
between the years of the territorial gold and the 60s plate junk are gold content "tribute" pieces. you need an expert here
Personally I would never consider this type of token to add to my collection (I focus on BG numbers only) ... to each their own. Interesting example though.
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), DesertMoon, Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Proofcollection, Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)