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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/California Gold Coins
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Question
I have 7 very small gold coins. They all say California or Cal.
Five are octagons and four round. Some have a woman's face on the front,others have an Indian and one has what looks like a Spartan warrior. The backs vary from a bear & a sunset to just a star. Some say gold, some 1/2 and some 1/4. Dates range from 1850 to 1857. All are in perfect condition.
These sound like California fractional gold pieces. You might try going to www.ebay.com and doing a search for just that i.e., California fractional gold. I just did that and got 119 returns. You wii thus see some for sale, and can compare the pictures (and the prices) to your pieces. Jim Lawniczak
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 5 | Clarity of Response = 7 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | I have done more research and also gone to a coin dealer and have found and of the California gold pieces with a bear on the back are fakes. Thank you for your help. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Jim Lawniczak
Expertise
I will answer your questions about encased coins (lucky pennies), which are advertising and event tokens with coins, unually cents, struck with the token.
Experience
Long time collector of encased coins and author of several articles on encased coins.
Organizations
TAMS, ECI (Encased Collectors International)
Publications
TAMS -- several articles on encased coins, in particular the encased coins of the 1901 Buffalo Pan American Exposition
Casement -- many articles on encased coins
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