Gold coin.

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

Okay fellows.............Here are a couple of pictures of Jack's gold coin. Can anyone tell me where, what, when and why? The coin is maybe half the size of a dime with the Indian on the front with 13 stars and the date of 1853. The back says California Gold. I'm sure Jack has found out the significance of such a small gold coin, but if any of you have any thoughts then I would appreciate it. Thanks and HH.

Eddie

 

[Steve(OR)]

Hey Eddie...

... check page 377 of the 2009 'Red Book' - has the story and the values.

Neat find.

SCM

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

I don't have that book. Can you give me the information? Thanks.

Eddie

 

[Steve(OR)]

Here's some online info:

http://www.pcgs.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=3467&universeid=313

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

Thanks a lot.

Eddie

 

[Don in SJ]

This website does show the exact coin, and it is most likely Brass, but could be gold, must read the site carefully and go on from there. Either way an unusual find. There are also modern Replicas of this coin but should have that written on it somewhere.

http://www.calgoldcoin.com/default.htm

Click on "California Gold Token Guide"
Arrow down and click on "Index of Wreath Types"
Arrow down and click on "Wreath 4 Index"
Arrow down and click on "Detailed list of Wreath 4d varieties"

Look at the varieites and judge for yourself. May have to contact website owner for verification???

Good Luck........

Don

 

[Ron (CA)]

n/t

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

Thanks Don. I guess if it is gold plated brass then it's not really worth very much according to what I read. It really didn't have any weight to it and it didn't have any kind of value denomination on it anyplace either. I wonder if it was made possibly to be used as a charm or something? HH.

Eddie

 

[Jim upstate NY]

and not spelled out California.. but thats off the top of my head...

 

[Don in SJ]

Seems to be a very complicated series of tokens, some brass, some plated, some other alloys, and even some gold. Not sure about abbreviations, took me long enough on that big website just to find what I did!


http://www.calgoldcoin.com/default.htm


Don

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

Thanks Jim.

Eddie

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

Thanks Don for all your help in looking up the information. I wouldn't have known where to begin. It will be interesting to find out for sure if it's real or just a plated token. Lot's of things to consider and for Jack's sake I hope it is the real deal and I'm sure he will find out from someone if it is or not. HH.

Eddie

 

[MattR]

In my opinion that isn't a gold coin.

Why?......Just look at the lack of lustre.

Gold coins generally look as bright as the day they were struck.

Wave it in front of a DFX in 3 KHz mode, and note the I.D. number'

Or ditto using an Minelab explorer...................MattR.UK.

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

Looking at this coin with the naked eye it had plenty of luster and if I had a better camera my pictures more than likely would have shown the luster. You have your own opinion Matt, but it doesn't mean that I or anyone else has to agree with you. The fellow who found this coin or token will surely find out just what it is and until then you can continue to believe it's a fake.


Eddie

 

[James N.D.]

I know Rick(ND) had found a different Denomination I believe 2 years ago in a Park that we were detecting at that was 1/2 the size of a Dime and the Gold Plating was starting to turn green from being in the ground. There really a neat Token to find due to how small they are. What ever the outcome of this Coin/Token, it's a great addition to the finders collection, that's for sure. Good Luck and HH buddy.

 

[Chris/MA]

From looking at the picture, I would say this is probably the brass or gold-plated brass version. Hope I'm wrong though, although even if it's gold it's only half a gram worth. Best to put it on sensitive digital scale to get the exact weight in grams, and then measure the thickness carefully with a digital caliper. Looks like most of the gold ones are 0.5mm thick and the brass are 0.7 to 0.75 thick. If still unsure, check reading on a detector. Brass should have a higher reading than gold by a good bit.

Either way, an interesting find. Probably not a replica given the age of the site.

 

[Rick(ND)]

[attachment 106390 minto.jpg]Yes mine was a round one and since then I have seen 4 more with one like the one Eddies freind found. These were in a collection that was brought to me and in the folder was a paper sayig they were a soveneir of California.

Nice find though as you dont see many being found.


Here is mine before cleaning.
[attachment 106388 mintof.jpg]
[attachment 106389 mintob.jpg]
[attachment 106390 minto.jpg]

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

Thanks Chris. I'll pass it on to Jack who found this coin/token.

Eddie

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

I agree with you James. I would have loved to have found that gold coin/token myself. Good "ole" Jack manages to find the neatest stuff. He is the one who found that seated dime love bracelet that I posted awhile back. HH.

Eddie

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

Very nice Rick and thank you sharing that with us. Got a buddy named John who will contacting you about the SE Pro coil. HH.

Eddie