Help, please: 1876 Cal Gold

This appeared in the local pawn shop:



I've been intrigued by California fractional gold, especially the octagonal pieces. I've never tried to buy one, though, because fakes are so prevalent.

But... this one looks to me like a BG-935, complete with the curve of the 6 under the 1. I think it's been cleaned, and maybe dented.

They're asking $119, which seems a good deal, assuming it's real. But I am NOT up on the series, so... thoughts?

 

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You need to converse with DD on all things CA. Gold.

 

I know that Heritage is auctioning California gold right now. There is so much variation in these I don't know that having basic coin counterfeit knowledge would apply to California gold... But maybe you peruse their auction and see if you can find a match maybe?

 

Heh. I'd love to have a copy of the Doering book, but it looks like it would set me back more than the piece itself. (Of course, then I'd have a known-good book, instead of a possibly-good token.)

 

PM Deplorable Dan.

He will gladly assist.
The Book is often not the best method.

 

I only buy them if they have been slabbed by a well know TPG. Any of the 4 major ones is fine. I had to get the photos off of my computer and I’m posting them here to help you compare.
There are way to many fakes of these, some in a finer gold.

 

My first instinct is that this is a facsimile or replica of some sort, but, not an expert on Cal gold so I await a response from someone who is…Spark

 

Well, I decided I wasn't going to let someone else beat me to it. Even talked them down on the price.

I'll try to get some microscope shots together later tonight. Examining it through a loupe under strong light, though, I'm seeing clear matches for every odd feature in the photos on PCGS CoinFacts -- the 6 under the 1, wart on the neck, doubling of letters, deep die scratch in the bow, everything. If it's a fake, it's the most fastidious fake I've ever heard of, never mind seen.

I guess the next question will be whether and where to send it in. I'm still not convinced it will straight grade. Nearly every coin looks terrible under high magnification, I know, but I'm pretty sure this actually has a small dent/bend. It definitely has scratches, and appears to have some high-point wear.

 

I’m glad you took the plunge. I wanted to encourage you to do that…. But I am already my own worst enabler.

 

What you want is a 'genuine' designation. That, above all else, is paramount......

 

Good luck, please send it in and keep us posted on the grade/genuine.
I'd prefer you do PCGS Express service level so we don't have to wait as long.

 

Good Luck...

 

@-jeffB With California Gold you need to remember that the small denomination gold like this coin was made by private mints due to a coin shortage during the California Gold Rush. They were minted from local gold starting in 1852. Read your Red Book, if you haven’t already, as it covers this topic fairly well.
As you can tell by my earlier post, quality was not that important. If you send it in and it’s the real thing, I feel it will straight grade. If not and it gets a GENUINE on the slab, well that’s still good. Glad to hear you bought it and that you even got a lower price.

 

You clearly don't know me very well. I might get around to sending it somewhere in the next year or two. I'm not speedy by nature; it'll take me a couple of weeks to recover from the strain of deciding to buy it over the course of an afternoon!

 

Welp, no way around it, my video microscope stinks. So here are a couple of phone photos under somewhat better light. Maybe I can clear enough space to set up the DSLR, macro lens, stand, and some lighting. But not tonight.

 

What's with the "doubling" on the reverse? I'm still rooting for you.

 

Like @Collecting Nut said, quality on these was never a strong point. The PCGS page images I linked above show the same features. That's one reason these scare me - the real ones often look like crude fakes!

 

Any doubling on California private issues should not be confused with a doubled die.

 

Two other observations from last night:

This piece has medal alignment, not coin alignment.

It weighs just 0.29g, which is less than half what I'd expect for a "half dollar".

So far I haven't been able to find an online source for either alignment or weight on this specific variety. It may have to wait until the next local show, which is the weekend before Thanksgiving. (If I haven't got an answer by then, I'll check the wide selection of books carried by Barber Shop Coins, and buy one that has the answer.)

 

The weight should be the key.