Are California gold tokens real gold?
It is not gold. It is not a “coin,” a word that suggests it was minted by the government for commerce. The reverse of an authentic California fractional gold coin has a denomination on it, such as 1/4, 1/2 and 1 DOLLAR.
What is California fractional gold?
A: California fractional gold pieces are gold coins of small denomination issued by jewelers, engravers, and goldsmiths to satisfy a need for small change that developed in California during the Gold Rush days.
How much is a California gold piece worth?
Token US One Half California Gold 1852 Private mints started making small ‘fractions of a dollar’ gold tokens worth (usually) 25 and 50 cents. Original and genuine Cal Gold coins and tokens are avidly collected and can be worth hundreds or thousands of US dollars today.
How much gold is in a California fractional gold coin?
These small coins ranged in fineness from 22 carats (24 being pure gold) to 14 carats. All contain substantially less gold than their face value, making them a form of token.
What are California gold coins?
California gold coinage is a broad category of privately-issued coin-like items that were used in place of official currency in the United States territory (later state) of California during the gold rush of 1849.
When was the first $1 coin made in California?
When the United States branch mint in San Francisco finally was established in 1854, only 15,000 gold $1 pieces were coined, with no $1 denominations being issued the following year. During 1855, only $150,000 in United States small denomination silver coins were issued in California, with most being hoarded or exported.
How big is a 1885 Cal Cal?
1885-DATED CAL. GILT CHARM ARMS OF CALIF – WREATH #2 ROUND, 9.7mm MS Shop! Shop! Shop Now! 1885-DATED CAL. GILT ARMS OF CALIF – WREATH #2 OCTAGONAL, 11.2mm 1885-DATED CAL.
Where can I find information about Cal Gold?
The details of these pieces is too specialized and too complex for the CoinQuest forum, but numismatist Mike Locke has a good site on Cal Gold, and CalGoldOnline.com is the definitive meeting place for collectors and dealers.
How many carats are in a piece of gold?
These small pieces ranged in fineness from 22 carats (24 being pure gold) to 14 carats or 583 thousandths fine. All contain substantially less gold than their face value, making them a form of token. The questions of how much – if any – circulation they saw has been for some time, and remains still, a point of controversy.