California Gold Coins - Real?

[pointdlr]

These coins all came off a very old charm bracelet from a prominent old Cincinnati family. In the first picture, I included all the coins on the bracelet, b/c the top row are all 100% authentic US issued gold coins. Here is a breakdown of the coins in the first picture:
Top Row Left to Right:
1) 1853 $1 US Gold
2) 1929 $2.5 US Gold
3) 1854 $1 US Gold
4) 1849 $1 US Gold.
It is the bottom row that I only have a hunch on. I do know they are all represented to be California Fractional Gold pieces. From a little research, I found out that these were reproduced by jewelers. I am hoping to find someone who is an expert on these types of coins that may be able to identify them as the real ones or the jeweler copies. I will say that they "feel" like real gold, but I just don't know for sure.
Here is a list for Row 2 Left to Right:
1) 1856 "Half Dol. California Gold"
2) 1870 "Half Dollar"
3) 1872 or 3 "1/4 Dolllar Cal."
4) 1858 "California Gold"
5) 1870 "1 Dollar California Gold"
Thanks in Advance for your help,
Jon Dickinson

 

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[traderoftreasures]

are you sure any of them are real

 

[Don in SJ]

Best suggestion on the Calif pieces is to look carefully at this site and maybe even contact the person who owns it, he is the expert on the Calif gold coins, legit and reproductions.

http://www.calgoldcoin.com/

 

[pointdlr]

Trader,
The US coins are easy to call as real. Should I post the backs for you? I know they are seldom seen types, but they are very legit.
Don,
Thanks. I had to pay $5 to see his photo section, but my answer seems to be coming. I suspected they might be real, and the site has confirmed all but the 1858 without a denomination. At least I think it has. I will try to post some individual pics with his site pics.
Regards,
Jon Dickinson

 

[Iron Patch]

Isn't there white metal showing on many around where they're punched? What about the holed ones... is it gold on the inside where it was drilled?

 

[pointdlr]

IronPatch,
I see you have suspicions about these coins, and that is a good thing. I just about didn't even research them assuming they were fake. My pics aren't great, and there is a little solder on a few of them. Reading about them it is also possible they are not pure gold. Apparently, they were not made with much consistency or maybe even truthfulness. With this being said, I am gaining confidence in them being the real deal. I would love your opinion after these pics. I can try to retake my pics also. I kinda rushed them.
Regards,
Jon Dickinson.
This first coin is listed at BG-1202. It is a 1 Dollar coin dated 1870. The 1870 is lightly struck, which is interesting b/c there is an exact coin on ebay right now with a light strike of the date.
The professional looking pics come from the calgold website, and the other pics are of my piece. I think it is a match. Opinions?

 

[pointdlr]

This one is the listed as BG-921 $1/2 dollar 1870.

 

[Monty]

I am no expert on gold coins, but there is something about the last one in the photograph that doesn't look right. The stars are not sharply defined and the star in front of Libertie's head is slightly out of place compared to the one above. Just a guess on my part. Monty

 

[pointdlr]

This one is listed as BG-310 or BG-311( I can't tell for sure) 1856 1/2 Dollar.

 

[pointdlr]

I will post the other tomorrow. I didn't get a good pic at all of the front.

Monty- You are correct that the coins are different. The one on top is a US issue $1 1849 gold piece, and the one on the bottom is a California $1 1870 gold piece that was made to mimic the US gold piece.

Jon.

 

[pointdlr]

Forgot I already had a pic of the front before I clipped the rings off. This one is listed as BG-869 1/4 Dollar 187x. Mine has a nearly identical smudge on the date as the one in the pro photo.

 

[Iron Patch]

This one is the listed as BG-921 $1/2 dollar 1870.

Is it just the picture or is that a white metal to the right of the hole where it looks like there is a scrape?

 

[pointdlr]

Iron Patch,
It is some kind of "goop" on top of the coin. I will remove it with a toothpick tomorrow and take another pic. Just grime.
Jon.

 

[Iron Patch]

Iron Patch,
It is some kind of "goop" on top of the coin. I will remove it with a toothpick tomorrow and take another pic. Just grime.
Jon.

Ok, it's probably just solder from attaching the loops.

 

[BobinSouthVA]

Well my 2 cents are probably only worth 1 since I've never found, held or seen a gold coin so take this accordingly.

but if these were all gold and part of a charm bracelet, wouldn't they show alot more wear and scratching from banging together? Of course consideration should be taken that maybe it was not worn at all, however (no experience with this either ) don't prominent rich people like to wear and flaunt their bling?

 

[traderoftreasures]

One reason that i questioned the coins is because who in their right mind would drill a hole in such a nice old gold coin? and then solder a ring on it totally making it good for nothing but scrap.

 

[pointdlr]

Trader,
Unfortunately or fortunately, gold coins were not always worth $1400 an ounce. These small denomination US gold coins may have only been worth their face value when the bracelet was made. If you have a Redbook or you know how to search the web, look up the US gold coins to assuage your fears about them first. Here are the backs of them. The 1849 has been completely destroyed with solder on the back. Oh well, they are only worth scrap...
As to the California gold pieces, the holes certainly hurt them, but I would highly doubt they are worth scrap. Try running a google search for the different types using the BG numbers. Click on the PCGS site in the Google results. You are going to be shocked at how rare these coins are. I might say in terms of just pure rarity, a few of them qualify as the rarest coins posted on this forum in quite some time. That is, if they are real, which I wish someone could help with.
I know someone on here knows California Gold or knows someone who does. Debating why someone would hole them or that they haven't been flaunted enough to show wear really doesn't get me any closer to an answer.
Regards,
Jon Dickinson.

 

[rluckadoo]

You could do a specific gravity test (weight vs. volume), or have one done on them. Gold is a 19 and unless they are filled with lead, the specific gravity test won't lie. You could also take to a reputable jeweler to have a karat test completed on them.

 

[mojjax]

You might want to get a copy of this book . There's one on ebay right now BUY IT NOW -$5.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/Detecting-Count...977?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item2eac0fa4b9


lot of good info

 

[Iron Patch]

Aren't you just interested for the melt value? If so, it's actually pretty easy to figure them out, and even if not just for melt you don't have to do much damage. Put a small nic in the side of the coin deep enough to get through any possible plating. If it's white metal... well you know it's a plated fake. If it's yellow metal, you weigh it because brass it will weigh less than gold. Throw em on the scale to start and go from there. A weight that is good, and seeing yellow from the scratch test... well that could equal paydirt.

Even with the addition of the loop I would bet a brass fake would still be underweight. If you have ever had a gold coin in your hand you should have been able to feel the weight compared to a copper.