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 Replies: 11 / Views: 3,361 |
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New Member
United States
44 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
21584 Posts |
They are known as California Gold Coins or California Fractional Coins.
There are over 450 varieties so I will let you do the leg work. One thing to
look out for is that these have been heavily counterfeited.
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New Member
 United States
44 Posts |
Thank you for the information, do you happen to know any red flags that would instantly scream counterfeit? Is there a website that you know of that I could potentially receive the information I am seeking?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4691 Posts |
These appear to be charms or fantasy pieces that were made in large quantities in the 1970s. Some were made with minimal gold content, others were not. Someone on this board will probably be able to tell you definitively.
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New Member
United States
44 Posts |
Would I have any luck using the search feature on this forum? They are very light whatever they are but have an outstanding finish on them, I found them in an older match box. I am pretty fascinated with them. Ive Googled them anf the coin themselves had limited amount of information unless I didn't allow myself enough time to do a proper search. Id like to find out whether they have gold or whether fake.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
24939 Posts |
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Counterfeit examples are often made out of gold plated brass.
I have one.
The very first test to be applied is to know the accurate weight, but that by itself is not enough.
Quite a few of the more convincing counterfeits are jeweler's copies, made out of good quality gold.
Personally, I do not know anywhere nearly enough about these to pick fakes and counterfeits. Even with genuine examples, the style varied.
For this reason, I have never had enough faith in myself to buy an example.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
You could find a coin store or coin club near you that has a metal XRF analyzer. Ask them to test the coins. It will say what metal content they are, maybe just brass/copper or a very thin layer of gold on top, genuine examples would be gold.
Edited by livingwater
11/25/2022 7:08 pm
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Moderator
United States
15389 Posts |
I have serious reservations about those being authentic issues. Good suggestion to have a coin shop near you examine them.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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New Member
United States
44 Posts |
Yes I agree about having a shop check into them. Hondo Bogguss, do you know where you got that holder case from as nothing else they would make a good conversational piece. I don't have as many as you have. Seems as I have a couple that are very similar to yours though. Wondering if they was at one time part of a set like that, why would anyone seperate them, or what happened to the missing ones? Just my mind wondering is all. Lol don't mind me as I was going thru my boxes of my collection I came across these coins and seen the gold and of course got excited lol as most everything that I've been collecting has been solid .999 fine copper and .999 fine silver. I haven't ventured yet into gold. Been too worried about fakes and buying 24k gold to find out later it's only 14k gold or similar issues. Thanks again for the knowledge and taking the time to help a newbie out
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
24939 Posts |
The souvenir California gold token set belonged to my father. I have no idea where he got it, although it must have been sometime in the mid '70s.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3342 Posts |
Real ones have the word "dollar" or "dol" on them. Most of the Indian heads are fakes too. I've collected several real ones. I became interested in them while reading the blogs here. If they ever functioned as money it was only for a short period in the 1850's before the San Francisco mint started coining silver. After that they became gold souvenirs until 1881 when the government prohibited their mintage as coins with a denomination. Compared to US Mint coins they're underweight and of unknown gold content. The dollars I have weigh 1.0-1.2 grams, versus 1.7 grams for a US Mint dollar. https://www.PCGS.com/coinfacts/cate...al-gold/1659"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
11/26/2022 1:06 pm
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Replies: 11 / Views: 3,361 |
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Posted 11/25/2022 2:33 pm
