Possible California Gold Rush Quarter

Wanted to know:

Any thoughts on this coin being genuine: picked it up yesterday for way to little...

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Get some light on the coin so that we can make a reasonable assessment.

 

This is the best I can do under the circumstances:

 

It tested as 96.8% pure on the sigma electronic precious metal tester last evening. But I could only find varities with denominations on the reverse in the Breen book.

 

It's weight looked about right at .46gms making four of them worth a little over a dollar in gold for the time.

 

Can you get a similar pic of the reverse?

 

How's this:



Its the same color as the obv. But I used different light to reduce the reflectivity.

 

I once read somewhere that the ones with the word "dol" or "doll" along with 1/4 or 1/2 were NOT genuine, that the originals did not have any denomination on them. That was some time ago but you might want to look into that.

 

It's a copy that was produced and sold in the 50's. Gold plated. Notice the drawing of the bust is cartoonish Looking? My dealer sells them for $2 each.

 

Looks better without the light....The light ruined the picture

 

If it is plated how can it test 96.8% pure? Plating is not thick.

 

If talking about the Breen Gillio book, I suggest you read it.

 

Here are some photos from: http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/hierarchy.aspx?c=1659

 

It's a fake. According to the Red Book, California Gold pieces were privately minted starting in 1852 in quarter, half and dollar coins. They were underweight. Early coins, as yours dated 1853, contained up to 85% of face value in gold. The design of Liberty is a dead giveaway and there are other factors as well. Look at the coin, without googling your eyes.

 

I have limited time available so I didn't read the entire Walter Breen's, "Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins"copyright(1977) regarding territorial gold coins, but went to the library on my lunch break and photocopied the section on octagonal gold coins. So good sir, if you wouldn't mind, can you inform me on what I missed Iun the book. By the way, what is the Gillio book?

 

Thanks C. Nut. I appreciate the info info. I thought it was highly suspect. I think I'll return it tonight.

 

Understood, but I been talking about the above-referenced book I would have been clear when doing so. That said, if you simply do a quick web search for the book I did mention, you'll certainly learn more about it than I could ever explain here.

 

Fair enough...Will do...thanks,
Books

 

For those interested i returned it for an even exchange for a Silver 1984 Libertad from Mexico; One of the 1 ounce bullion coins from a country i did not have have in state minted bullion. I got a good deal, in that I paid only 14 for the gold piece.

 

Hope it wasn't fake.