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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,285 |
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
I have a very basic question, to start with. Does anyone know if any Indian Head, round, 1/4 dollar fractional CA gold coins were made in 1853? I think I have a modern fake and thought I would start with this question before I got more detailed and added photos. Thanks
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2517 Posts |
There is a round 1/4 dollar California Gold piece minted in 1853, but it's not an Indian head, but a Liberty head. There is an Indian head minted in 1952, did you read the date right? These things are tiny, even the catalogue picture is blurry.
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New Member
 United States
11 Posts |
Yeah. I read it right. That's the problem. 1853 Indian round.
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Valued Member
United States
406 Posts |
Nope, sorry, they are all Liberty Heads, BG-208 to 220 or so. No Indian Head round quarters. Best Regards,  George |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2517 Posts |
Magician's coin? Someone got one half of one coin and stuck it to another half. See if there's a seam/join.
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
Thanks everyone. That's what I thought.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
I wouldn't write it off before posting pictures. You can describe it as you see it, but nothing is worth a good picture for determining exactly what you have. Many of these tokens were not real California Fractional gold, but many were still made of gold.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1566 Posts |
 Let the community have a look at it. |
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
I'll try to get some pics up Sunday. It tested out at less than 10 ct. gold.
Thanks everyone!
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Who cares if it's real?  |
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
Here are a couple of photos, I hope.   |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2517 Posts |
The pictures in my catalogue are small and blurry but all the round indian heads (can't see well enough if the design is copied or totally different) look like they have "Dollar" in the wreath.
There is no round 1853 indian head gold 1/4 dollar, so it's a fantasy piece. Check it out though, it might turn out to be gold.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1531 Posts |
 I'm not sure how some people collect California gold, I personally think it is rather unattractive. But it's just my opinion, everyone's got one! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
It is definitely a tourist token. Real California Fractional gold has a denomination on the reverse. And most certainly does not say "California" gold on it in place of a denomination. Most replica tourist tokens were made of brass. Some of the early century tokens were gold plated. And many of the contemporary tokens/replicas were not authentic California gold, but still made of gold. Your token most likely came from a set like THISEdited by denco7
01/03/2015 8:49 pm
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Pics are fine. California Gold is a fascinating branch of numismatics, from the original pieces themselves to the wonderful cacophony of counterfeits and fakes. I'll bet more people have taken more shots at faking California Gold than any other type. You could easily devote a whole collecting career to it. |
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Valued Member
United States
406 Posts |
Totally agree SuperDave. One trouble is that the standard reference to the series, the second edition of the Breen-Gillio book, is so expensive and hard to find. Wait a minute, let me check Amazon.com and see what I come up with. OK, got it. Hardcover, one "like new" from $400. Paperback, 9 used from $275. So far I have gotten along with just having the Jay Roe catalog. Best Regards, George |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 3,285 |
Posted 01/02/2015 3:54 pm
