1852 California Gold ½ Token/Coin?

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 12,762
dcv Valued Member United States 142 Posts	Posted 06/09/2008 04:58 am Can you tell me what this is? Is it a coin? Is it real gold? Is it really from 1852 or was it restruck? Can anyone tell me anything about this, or at least what it is called so I can research it? It really looks more like a gift shop souvenir than a coin. Thank you! Edited by Sap 06/10/2008 08:47 am Report this Post to the Staff

wwhitman Pillar of the Community United States 1415 Posts	Posted 06/09/2008 09:50 am It appears to be real. This type is not rare. I see them all the time on e-bay. They are called California fractional. This one appears to be a half dollar. They were used during the gold rush days. Then they were given away as souvenirs. You can find then listed in most coin books - try the US RedBook I'm pretty sure they will be listed there. I do not have my copy here, but I think that is correct. Report this Post to the Staff
BobK Valued Member United States 177 Posts	Posted 06/09/2008 11:14 am One thing I found in the RedBook under California small-denomination gold is the following: Beware of extremely common modern replicas (often having a bear in the design), which have little or no numismatic value. (bold in the original) Report this Post to the Staff
KurtS Pillar of the Community United States 5318 Posts	Posted 06/09/2008 11:53 am Here's some interesting reading on these tokens with bear reverses. Report this Post to the Staff
biokemist6 Bedrock of the Community United States 12437 Posts	Posted 06/09/2008 12:15 pm Yep, any of them with a bear are not original and many of those are brass or gold-plated brass. There are also reproductions without a bear and are based on genuine designs and those are much harder to authenticate. Quote: I see them all the time on e-bay. That is part of the problem, many of them on ebay are wrongly listed as genuine Cal gold fractional tokens when they are nothing more than a souvenir piece. Edited by biokemist6 06/09/2008 12:17 pm Report this Post to the Staff
dcv Valued Member United States 142 Posts	Posted 06/09/2008 2:58 pm Thanks everyone. Kurt, that article was perfect. It old me exactly what I wanted to know. Bob, thanks or pointing that out. I had already checked the Red Book but didn't find it. (I was looking for the bear). I see now where they are listed and the bold warning to which you are referring. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 5 / Views: 12,762

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