Any Clue To What This Is?

[River Rat]

I've had it for years (25+) never a clue to what it is. Don't even remember how I even got it. Heck, it could be something that was in a box of cereal. Several people looked at it at the CTH & thought some type of token. PBK, need your help here big time.

RR

 

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[Evolution]

Am i seeing the date right? it looks like 18 forty something. Sorry I cant help with ID.

 

[warsawdaddy]

?Looks like an ol' prospector panning for gold.

 

[civilman1]

?Looks like an ol' prospector panning for gold.

I agree with Warsaw on this RR....184?..

 

[PBK]

Okay, RR... got it!

It's a 19th century game counter (token used like play money or poker chips), one of a number of "Gold Miner Counters." The obverse, worn away on yours, imitated the design of the Coronet head U.S. gold pieces of the mid 1800's. The date is 1849. It's uncertain where these were made. Some sources suggest that they were struck in the U.S., possibly in San Francisco; others, that they were struck in Germany, where many other game counters were being produced at that time.

These pieces are listed in American Game Counters by Rulau and Fuld.

​

 

[MD Dog]

How do you do that PBK ? I wouldn't have even taken a guess at where to start researching something like this. It's kinda like watching that Chris Angel freak.

 

[PBK]

Just one of those "freak" things, I guess!

 

[River Rat]

PBK,

Man, I've been trying to get this IDed for 25+ years and you ID it within 10 minutes. Now, what really baffles me how did I get it? I never really protected it, but it is now in one of those coin holders. Wonder if it is worth anything? Thanks, PBK!

RR

 

[PBK]

Per a PM request, here's a side by side comparison. There are several die varieties, so not all of the details may be identical, but the basic design is the same.

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[Tin Nugget]

Excellent work PBK. You are amazing!

 

[SoulDancer]

Looks to have a gold prospector on it with a possible date of 1849. Heck no matter what it's surely a neat find!

You might want to ask a gold assayer for their opinion. I would think they may have seen a picture of one, at some point.

 

[trikikiwi]

Nice find
and ID from the Wizard PBK

First look, it was a guy on a motorbike.

Maybe I've been riding too much lately?? (NEVER!!!)

Cheers, Mike

 

[BuckleBoy]

Now that's an AWESOME find! But just as AWESOME is the swift ID of the item!!

Way to go!


-Buckleboy

 

[texan connection]

well I'll be, good on both ya'll, I dident have a clue when you brought it to the hunt, sure like to see a value on that

 

[PBK]

well I'll be, good on both ya'll, I dident have a clue when you brought it to the hunt, sure like to see a value on that

This one brought $40 on eBay less than two months ago:

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[ivan salis]

amazingly fast ID PBK-- by the way I want my lamp with the all knowing Genie back he's complaining that your wearing him out -- Ivan

 

[PBK]

amazingly fast ID PBK-- by the way I want my lamp with the all knowing Genie back he's complaining that your wearing him out -- Ivan

Aw, heck... not him, too? Lately I seem to be rubbing everybody the wrong way!

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Nice coin RR......Great ID's warsawdaddy and PBK!

 

[wesfrye53]

I'm sitting here shaking my head PBK. To ID something like that as quickly as you did is truely amazing.

And the Research Queen didn't even complain that you beat her this time