Coin Community Family of Web Sites Join Thousands of Coin, Bullion, & Money Collectors
Vancouvers #1 Coin and Paper Money Dealer 300,000 items to help build your collection! Join Thousands of Coin, Bullion, & Money Collectors Royal Canadian Mint products, Canadian, Polish, American, and world coins and banknotes. Royal Estate Auctions - $1 Coin AuctionsSpecializing in Modern Numismatics Coin, Banknote and Medal Collectors's Online Mall








Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?


This page may contain links that result in small commissions to keep this free site up and running.

Welcome Guest! Registering and/or logging in will remove the anchor (bottom) ads. It's Free!

Gold Token ?

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.
Author Previous TopicReplies: 6 / Views: 1,822Next Topic  
Valued Member
twincam_04's Avatar
United States
420 Posts
 Posted 06/09/2010  03:15 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add twincam_04 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
what do you think?... looks pretty cheesy to me
http://cgi.ebay.com/1857-Liberty-He...12_W0QQitemZ270588309464QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SRCH:US:101#ht_500wt_937
Valued Member
Whytlash's Avatar
United States
407 Posts
 Posted 06/09/2010  04:16 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Whytlash to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Well, I don't know about "cheesy", but pics often don't do justice to a coin, as we know.

It's surely one of the modern repros sold in curio and gift shops. Many years ago (more than I care to remember!) when I was a young lad about 10 or 11 I was spending the weekend with my grandparents. For some unknown reason I was looking in the drawer of the nightstand and there were 5 or 6 of these things in 2x2's, all of various designs. I thought they were really cool! I asked my grandmother and she said I could have them.

Many years later I happened upon them in "my stuff" and took them to as coin shop, one of those that sells all kinds of stuff including coins, and asked the guy if they were "real". He looked them over and told me they weren't real gold, but tokens, modern ones and worth a couple of bucks.

As I can remember about half were California Gold tokens, and a Maxmillian, and one that I think looked like the one in the auction. They really do look nice in hand, and look like real gold.

Over the years I gave them to friends and such and I think I still have the Maxmillian somewhere. I have looked up the "real" ones and the cheap tokens are pretty good replicas. Except the California Gold tokens have a bear on the reverse which the real coins do not.

So maybe I'm a little biased on these! I think they're cool. And apparently some of the later ones do have a thin gold plating. In my old age I've gotten into real gold, and thought I'd like to buy one of the real ones, but those little suckers are expensive!

Anyway, thanks for bringing back a memory.

Steve
Valued Member
twincam_04's Avatar
United States
420 Posts
 Posted 06/09/2010  04:38 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add twincam_04 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Steve, after a long terrible night at work and some stressful and misunderstood texting with my girlfriend earlier tonight, you put a smile on my face with your story.

I have to thank you for that, and I'm glad I was able to bring back a memory like that to you
Valued Member
Whytlash's Avatar
United States
407 Posts
 Posted 06/09/2010  05:14 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Whytlash to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Thank YOU for allowing me to relive a pleasant memory I haven't thought of in quite a while, and my telling of that memory helping to break the spell of your melancholy. Who would have ever thought a "cheesy" little coin could do THAT?!?

I do the "banana dance" in your honor.

It's peanut butter jelly time!

Valued Member
twincam_04's Avatar
United States
420 Posts
 Posted 06/09/2010  05:22 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add twincam_04 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Goodnight from Ga., hope your day is bright... and I think i'll hit it one time before bed
Pillar of the Community
Learn More...
carmykle's Avatar
United States
2448 Posts
 Posted 06/25/2010  12:00 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add carmykle to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I do believe you answered my question in another section. I too came across some tokens, but I was antiquing with my wife. We played hooky from a conference in Nashville and found a quaint store well south of the city. My wife loved the shop and instantly picked up on the gold coins. I didn't know anything about them, I never collected gold coins, but the "California Gold" on the reverse had us conjuring up all kinds of "49er" images.

My wife has passed now, but I'll always remember where we found the tokens even if they're not worth anything. It was a great day.

Thanks Whytlash
Valued Member
Whytlash's Avatar
United States
407 Posts
 Posted 06/25/2010  8:00 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Whytlash to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hi carmykle,

I never knew "the story" until many, many years later about these little things. It's amazing to think that they did actually make these tiny coins out of gold, and they were money "back then". And a small cottage industry sprung up from making souvenir copies of them. They are, to my eyes, quite stunning, and fun to have. I thought they were so fun I gave all but one away! Share the fun with your friends!

But you have a memory just like I had. I can still remember, distinctly, opening that drawer, out of boredom and random "kid" nosiness, and finding these things and thinking "WOW!" And that was almost 40 years ago. Some memories last a lifetime.

Steve

  Previous TopicReplies: 6 / Views: 1,822Next Topic  

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.



    




Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Contact Us  |  Advertise Here  |  Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Coin Community Forum © 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Forums
It took 0.24 seconds to rattle this change. Forums