Coin and Paper Money Collecting/california gold coin

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Expert: - 5/18/2008


Question

Back of coin
Well I have a coin that I found.It Has a date of 1858.In the front it has a lady facing to the left.Around her are 13 stars.The date is under the lady.In the back there is a 1/2 sign right in the middle.It has lettering on the top of the 1/2 sign that says CALIFORNIA GOLD.On the bottom of the 1/2 sign is a picture of a animal that kind of looks like a  hippo or another sort of animal its really wierd. It has many dots around the back of the coin.I really wanted more information about it and how much it can be worth.

Answer
Hello Gaby,                                

There are a lot of fakes in this area of collecting. Yours looks like a reproduction or fantasy coin but I cannot say for sure without seeing the piece.

There are over 500 varieties all I have seen are round or octagonal in the half dollar denomination I've come across. Authentic pieces have CENTS or Dollar or an abbreviation thereof on the reverse yours does not.

This “Souvenir Piece” or token was made after the date marked to either fool collectors or for sale to tourists. It might or might not be real gold if it is old or it might be a more modern piece in base metal only.

As a reproduction it has very little value to coin collectors it may have some historical value as a novelty.

The easiest way to find out what you have is at a coin Shop.

If you still suspect it to be a genuine piece it needs to be checked by a specialist. If it is genuine it will have some numismatic value. But it cannot be estimated without a knowledgeable coin person seeing it.

If you don't have coins shows or a club in your area and need to find one I may be able to help. If you can give me the nearest large Cities, some postal zip codes and telephone area codes I will refer you to an expert in your area.  

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack
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PAPAJACK

Expertise

Knowledge of United States Coins from 1793 to date. Able to answer most common numismatic questions. Collected U.S. Coins from half cent to 50 dollar gold coins.

Experience

QUALITY CONTROL
United States Coin COLLECTOR/DEALER OVER 20 YEARS, U.S. COINS Worked trade shows,
EXPERT Consulting since 1990, Knowledge of all methods of fabrication used in the industry.
Hobbies:US notes, clocks, cars, computers, coins, leisure activity and crafts to name a few.

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