I have seen a lot of fractional gold on Ebay with a Bear or other things on the reverse, but i read unless it has the denomination it is a numismatic piece. I have not found any pictures of gold coins with 1/4 or 1/2 on the reverse. I would like to know where you can find these and what kind of value they have? I know get a book, but right now because health issues I can't go to a town with a book store nor do I have the extra money to buy one at this time. Besides I enjoy hearing or reading I guess what real collectors have to say and I have made some good friends on here asking dumb questions. One last ting what about Californian Gold Tokens I see these on Ebay but I am skeptical as too wheather they are genuine or even have Gold in them. Thanks Kent
There is literally a ton to learn about the gold tokens. The majority are fakes and contain no gold, bu there are those that do contain gold. But it takes a lot of looking to find out. If you use this web site - Mike Locke's Califonia Gold - you can sort it all out pretty well and learn how to identify the fakes. But don't ever buy one unless you know the dealer you are buying it from very well and have complete trust in him.
Do you know how to use google? Give a man a fish, he eats for a day ..give a man google and he learns to fish himself. Go to google.com enter "California fractional gold coins" and the world is your oyster. http://www.reisbord.com/goldcalfractionals.htm http://www.coinsite.com/content/articles/fractional.asp http://www.alaskacoinexchange.com/Articles/California%20Gold%20Book.htm http://www.ehow.com/about_5318892_history-california-fractional-gold-coins.html
That's certainly great advice. Cali fractional gold was crudely made, which complicates matters; a crude fake isn't so conspicuous next to crude originals. There are tons of fakes; this is the worst area for counterfeits. Remember all of the originals were made privately, so private individuals find it easy to make passable fakes. Doug is certainly right - there is much to know in this specialist area.
Thanks for all the advice I will use these web sites, but think I will try to find a dealer I can trust rather chance Ebay. These looked intersting and are fairly cheap that is why I was curious about them I didn't realize it was sort of a specialty type of coin, but I do know there is a world of knowledge here and I appreciate the oppertunity to tap into it when I can Thanks Kent
Whoa hold it. You don't have the extra money for a book, but you think California Fractional Gold is fairly cheap?? Considering the cheapest genuine piece is probably going to be running around $300 you have either only been looking at fakes, or you should be willing to spend the money to buy the books.
The standard reference by Breen & Gillio is worth what it will save you in mistakes. How would you know a reputable dealer in California Gold? I mean, any ANA Member Dealer will always stand behind their sales as a matter of the Dealer Code of Ethics. But not all dealers know and it can be a hassle taking something back after three or four years because you think it is not genuine. GDJMSP and Conder101 both hit on important points. The websites recommended by Hudson James were all fine, but actually, Reisbord pointed to another board as the better expert: Ken Glickman. I interviewed Ken Glickman a few weeks back for an "Internet Connections" column that will run in early 2010. The Breen Gillio book is one of several and as the other site says, it was meant to replace two other old standards. But there were still other references. Some of those empassioned collectors and dealers were so enthralled that they actually bought original dies. Imagine that. Unlike the US Mint which destroys dies, the dies were still around, at least some of them. So, who has the dies now? Also, Walter Breen wanted to believe that these were really examples of laissez faire ad hoc capitalist people's hard gold money street commerce. He was a libertarian ... and sometimes, he let his politics get in the way of his numismatics. Read the book. Breen Gillio is the basis of knowledge for this. But it is not the be all and end all. Private gold coins and patterns of the United States by Donald H. Kagin (1981; 406 pages) is another important reference. Donald Kagin (as far as I know) still has the only Ph.D. in Numismatics in America and this is his specialty. If you are only curious because you saw them online and wanted to know more, then fine. Curiosity starts somewhere and no telling where it will lead. But to actually BUY one of these things without a lot of research is to ask for a world of hurt. If you ask me, I'd much rather own the book.
I will buy the books. They are not going to run out of coins I reckon so i guess I should learn something first. Thanks for the advice I tend to get carried away with coins before I get the information. This time I will slow down. Thanks Kent
Ken Glickman: release date on article? Do you know what the article will be titled? Is it still scheduled for release?
I can't help but think of my Uncle, who became quite wealthy as a pawn broker, and the rumors that circulated around the family about his Gold Coins. Well, both he and my aunt died and I helped to determine the value of his coins from the safety deposit box. His "gold" turned out to be California Fractional souvenirs from the fifties with NO numismatic value, even though they had the 60's Redbook Values for the real things on the 2 x 2s. I guess even pawn dealers got taken in the day.
