Coin and Paper Money Collecting/unknown type gold coin

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Expert: - 12/10/2010


Question
I am trying to identify a gold coin.  We think it is U.S. 1875 Indian head with thirteen stars and date on front of coin.  Back of coin is marked 1/4 Dollar Cal surrounded by leaf design.  There are no other markings.  The coin is very small 3/8" across.  It was my father's  Thank you

Answer
Hi Dave:

I've answered a question similar to this several times. There must be a number of these circulating out there. I'm guessing much of the interest is due to gold going up so much. It's now around the $1400 mark.

There's a strong chance your item is a copy or replica.  It is likely a token and not a coin.

See Link: http://www.reisbord.com/goldrusassayers.htm

If you have a genuine piece, it will be valued somewhere between $250 and $10,000, depending on the exact design and condition. But for every real one there are probably 10,000 that are fakes cast in lesser fineness gold, if they are even gold, and sold as souvenirs about 100 years later. Since they were made before the Hobby Protection Act of 1972, they usually are not marked as copies.

See Links:
http://www.coinfacts.com/pioneer_gold/pioneer_gold.htm or http://www.calgoldcoin.com/tokens.htm

You may want to check eBay listings in the California gold category or exonumia (tokens) under coins and currency from time to time to see if items like yours are listed and what they are going for.

If it is real, it is valuable and should be sent to (ANACS, PCGS or NGC) a third party grading and certification service.  If you still think it is authentic and need help finding a qualified coin person in your area feel free to a follow-up question back for the information.

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.

Coin and Paper Money Collecting

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Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

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