1853 1/4 Calif. Gold Token Real Or Fake

... and if you want to make your own, here's a guy selling the die. http://www.ebay.com/itm/ESTATE-1855...t_1471wt_952

Well Tmaring, that's not looking good for me and my coin but that die date is "1855" and on top of that it appears that the token he is using as example is dated "1854". Mine is "1853".

I am normally into ancients. A favorite way of picking die struck forgeries is to compare the styles of suspect coins with known genuine examples.

I personally know very little about this series.

What you need is a photofile of known all genuine examples.
Surely, sometime in the last 100 years, someone has completed a scholarly study on these tiny pieces of important American history.

That photofile needs to be referenced, using comparison observations.

The usual investigative methods of weighing, dimensions and photomicography also apply.

I'll betcha the ANS can provide most of the information you need.

Bonne chance, indeed. The coin that got me into collecting counterfeits was an old California Gold token. With so many varieties and so many replicas your best bet is to first start out with getting its composition analyzed (find a lab nearby that will do XRF for cheap). If it comes back anything other than gold, you'll have saved yourself hours of headache.

If it does come back as gold... then the search begins.

I live right by a gold pawn shop, over time and with selling my own old and found gold jewlery there I have became friends with the owner. He will tell me if its gold or not for free and test it right in front of me.

Your coin is likely best described as a fantasy California Gold Token. Here is an image of one in my collection of fake or fantasy California gold tokens and several similar tokens made by the same producer. None of these are gold so yours is probably not gold either.

Images 1 and 2 Like your token
Images 3 and 4 Similar but octagonal
Images 5 and 6 Liberty round. One is "proof"
Images 7 and 8 Liberty octagonal.

All tokens by the same maker. I do not know who or when these tokens were produced.

Likely made in the 60s or 70s ... maybe, I think. :)







'

The two primary signs of a Cal Gold reproduction/fantasy-

1) a goofy looking bear
2) no denomination

I must say, ^^^ that your pictures of the 5th and 7th token down in your pictures post on the previous page, are very modern. The ones with the very crude line drawings are stamped out of "goldine", or bright brass. Hence, being stamped, they'll have a sharp side and a rounded side... like a washer (thing on a bolt/nut). You can buy them by the bag, and even see corroded ones for sale on ebay... good ole ebay.