Expert: Neil S Berman - 6/17/2009

Question
I have 3 mint-condition very small round gold coins with an indian head on one side and a large "1/2" on the obverse and "California" and an engraving of what appears to be a bear.  The dates are all 1852.  Can you tell me something about these coins and their approximate value?

Answer
If the reverse includes the words "Dollar" or "Dol", then you have privately minted gold coins made from about 1850 to 1880. They would be gold because there was little or no silver in California so the subsiderity coins were also made of gold. If the do not have the reverse markings, they are brass copies made in the 1960s.