Show us your california fractional Gold!!!

UltraHighRelief · January 27, 2008 3:39AM

I am fascinated by these little pieces of history. They are extreamly undervalued and very rare. Lets see who has some!

rgCoinGuy · January 27, 2008 4:01AM

These are not real ones, and are an example what not to buy

Weiss · January 27, 2008 4:08AM

BlindedByEgo · January 27, 2008 4:26AM

About like photographing fish scales.

speety · January 27, 2008 4:30AM

I was just about to start this same thread, glad I looked to see what was on the front page before I posted. Just picked this up yesterday. What do you guys think? And these little guys are a

to photograph!

bsshog40 · January 27, 2008 5:23AM

I like these fractionals and want to buy one, one day. There are so many counterfeits around that a person has to be fairly knowledgeable at what they are looking at.

Broadstruck · January 27, 2008 5:26AM

There are so many counterfeits around that a person has to be fairly knowledgeable at what they are looking at.

Just always wonder what the percentage is?

Artist · January 27, 2008 5:51AM

I am in love with this series - they are beautiful, historic, privately issued gold coins. Best of all, collecting Cal Gold today seems like what collecting U.S. coins was thirty years ago - no 1000% price increases hinged on single TPGS grade points, prices are affordable with many rare and high quality examples trading for 3-figures, a relatively small circle of players yet enough to qualify as a community, very little hype due I suspect to the fact these coins are too rare to make a promotion viable.

So far I own three of these coins - all Period 1 examples minted by Antoine Nouzillet, who I think was the best craftsman of the Cal Gold makers. My most recent addition is this little beauty: BG-308 PCGS OGH MS62 Octagonal Half.

PerryHall · January 27, 2008 6:09AM

<< I like these fractionals and want to buy one, one day. There are so many counterfeits around that a person has to be fairly knowledgeable at what they are looking at. >>

If you're not sure what you are doing, buy one already slabbed by PCGS or NGC.

UltraHighRelief · January 27, 2008 8:13AM

NGC usually overgrades these. If you are a begginer, stick to pcgs. Also - ignore high grade ngc coiuns in 66 or 67! They go for moon money!

calgolddiver · January 27, 2008 11:32AM

This is a period 1 dollar - BG501.

calgolddiver · January 27, 2008 11:33AM

BG302

calgolddiver · January 27, 2008 11:35AM

BG505 - another period 1 dollar

bsshog40 · January 27, 2008 11:38AM

<< 

<< I like these fractionals and want to buy one, one day. There are so many counterfeits around that a person has to be fairly knowledgeable at what they are looking at. >>

If you're not sure what you are doing, buy one already slabbed by PCGS or NGC. >>

I agree with ya Perry, that would probably be the smart thing to do. I also plan to be a little more knowledable with these before I ever buy one anyway. If they are this confusing to me, there may be someone out there selling one that's authentic but thinks it's counterfeit. Ya never know!!

calgolddiver · January 27, 2008 11:39AM

BG1023 - R7 - AU58 - referenced in Breen Gillio 2nd edition

calgolddiver · January 27, 2008 11:42AM

bsshog40

a great reference site for cal fractionals :

cal gold

tightbudget · January 27, 2008 11:43AM

Ain't got any...probably should though, they're pretty historical.

CarlWohlforth · January 27, 2008 11:46AM

Octangular, Indian Head, proof like, rotated, tiny - what's not to like?

UltraHighRelief · January 28, 2008 8:54AM

nice coins everyone! I like the 302!

millennium · January 28, 2008 9:01AM

Almost proof like finish but a lot of scratches

Hyperion · January 28, 2008 9:13AM

always buy from a trusted dealer!
CIVITAS

calgolddiver · January 28, 2008 9:28AM

i guess they failed to mention the hole and ring attached ?

Hyperion · January 28, 2008 9:35AM

<< i guess they failed to mention the hole and ring attached ? >>

uh no

I have no prejudice against holes, this was picture as it appears

it was just an inexpensive 'type' to have

calgolddiver · January 28, 2008 9:43AM

i figured as such ... just bustin " on you

FilthyBroke · January 28, 2008 9:49AM

Wish I was a little better with the camera, it has some interesting die cracks.

calgolddiver · January 28, 2008 9:59AM

here's another bg230 - period 1 quarter

hrlaser · January 28, 2008 10:44AM

this is not mine, but it belongs to an old friend who inherited it last year.. it had been in his family for 153 years!.. knowing virtually nothing about Numismatics, he turned to me, and i walked him through the entire process of getting it into PCGS plastic.. it's.. uhh.. rather rare

.. check the pop reports.. value somewhere between $12k and $15k.. not sure if the 1854 BG-534 is the rarest of all Calif. Fractional Gold.. but it's way freakin' high up on the list of the rarest..

UltraHighRelief · January 28, 2008 10:47AM

<< this is not mine, but it belongs to an old friend who inherited it last year.. it had been in his family for 153 years!.. knowing virtually nothing about Numismatics, he turned to me, and i walked him through the entire process of getting it into PCGS plastic.. it's.. uhh.. rather rare

.. check the pop reports.. value somewhere between $12k and $15k.. not sure if the 1854 BG-534 is the rarest of all Calif. Fractional Gold.. but it's way freakin' high up on the list of the rarest.. >>

R6! Nice!

100proof1957 · January 28, 2008 10:55AM

Generally,and i use the term loosely !

According to Breen,and i talked to him personally at Long Beach around 1988,had smoe gold with me at the time.

If it has a Bear or an Indian on it,its likely a fake !

bsshog40 · January 28, 2008 11:04AM

<< Generally,and i use the term loosely !

According to Breen,and i talked to him personally at Long Beach around 1988,had smoe gold with me at the time.

If it has a Bear or an Indian on it,its likely a fake ! >>

I have seen alot of these on ebal. They also too nice to be real fron my view.

I also I would like to add that I have been saving these pics on this thread for my own informative purposes. If anyone objects, then please let me know and I will gladly delete them. Thanks!

PrivateCoinCollector · January 28, 2008 12:43PM

I have several of the so called fakes and only a few real ones. Are the fakes usually at least real gold?

bottleguy · January 28, 2008 1:01PM

Here are three authentic ones, all dated 1871...

Rick

beep · January 28, 2008 4:14PM

beep · January 28, 2008 4:38PM

<< Octangular, Indian Head, proof like, rotated, tiny - what's not to like?

>>

Hi Carl, Is that for sale?

Nice coin

I want it...sent pm and please please.
Brian

Fletcher · August 18, 2008 2:21PM

Not much info regarding these little flecks o' gold on these boards. I picked up this pair of Washington Heads this weekend ... one octagonal BG-722, one round BG-818

DieClash · August 18, 2008 2:28PM

Crappy crop job, my apologies! But hey its in the spirit of the OP! I promise to reimage this one day.

PerryHall · August 18, 2008 7:55PM

DieClash---That's not a real California fractional gold coin all of which have a denomination.

Fletcher · August 19, 2008 1:41AM

DieClash ... someone is selling a bag of 250 freshly minted tokens like that right now on Ebay for $250. I searched through my Breen-Gillo and couldn't find it in the type 3 section ...

VamGuy · August 19, 2008 5:28AM

BG-728 MS65PL

Fletcher · August 19, 2008 6:31AM

That is a nice one VAMGUY ... I am noticing prominent circular swirls on some of mine that are similar to the lines on your obverse. Do you think that they could be die polish lines???

speety · August 19, 2008 6:33AM

<< That is a nice one VAMGUY ... I am noticing prominent circular swirls on some of mine that are similar to the lines on your obverse. Do you think that they could be die polish lines??? >>

Mine shows these 'swirls' pretty clearly on the reverse. I was wondering what these were...

rjsvt · August 19, 2008 7:12AM

How about gold plated silver?

Goofy Head BG-1047
PCGS MS61

bob

rjsvt · August 19, 2008 7:24AM

Okay, I own one more, and I'm hoping to get my post count to 100 by the end of the year

BG-1035
PCGS MS62

bob

Fletcher · August 19, 2008 9:54AM

<< Okay, I own one more, and I'm hoping to get my post count to 100 by the end of the year

>>

Quit running up the bids on me

Here is my peacaulk (dumb filter wouldn't let me spell this correctly) ...

coindeuce · August 19, 2008 10:26AM

<< BG-728 MS65PL

>>

I had a raw example of this variety in hand yesterday, quite coincidentally. The owner had inherited it from his father, along with a fabulous collection of 19th century silver and copper type. I believe the BG-728 is an R-7. Notice the double strike of the profile at the chin.

Fletcher · August 19, 2008 10:36AM

Actually, the BG-728 is a R-3 and is quite plentiful, but not in such a high grade. I like the frosty devices and mirrored fields on his example ...

DieClash · August 19, 2008 11:05AM

<< DieClash---That's not a real California fractional gold coin all of which have a denomination. >>

PerryHall, You are correct, sort of. What I mean is, it is real gold and its related. Further, if you're interested the history of the piece and Mike Locke's assessment as discussed on these boards click here (about half way down the page): California Gold Educational Postt

<< DieClash ... someone is selling a bag of 250 freshly minted tokens like that right now on Ebay for $250. I searched through my Breen-Gillo and couldn't find it in the type 3 section ... >>

Fletch, this piece is not freshly minted [see thread link above], but rather circa 1906-20. I do appreciate your info all the same.

Cheers!

ambro51 · August 19, 2008 11:13AM

There was a great article on these fractionals some years ago in a Print coin magazine....what delighted me that the son of Rollie Totheroh, who was Charlie Chaplins main movie photographer....was a HUGE fan of these.

My Gosh would'nt you love to have gotten ahold of some of the GOLD this man had!
He made a Million dollars a year, in 1916

Fletcher · August 19, 2008 12:47PM

DieClash - great info in those links ... thanks :-)

VamGuy · August 20, 2008 1:56AM

<< That is a nice one VAMGUY ... I am noticing prominent circular swirls on some of mine that are similar to the lines on your obverse. Do you think that they could be die polish lines??? >> I wish I still owned the coin. I'd put it under the microscope and render an opinion. But I don't, so I can't.

Fletcher · August 20, 2008 10:37AM

<< I wish I still owned the coin. I'd put it under the microscope and render an opinion. But I don't, so I can't. >>

Don't you hate it when that happens???

Show us your california fractional Gold!!!

Comments

Leave a Comment