These two tiny gold coins are in my gold type set. I am assuming they are California Fractional Gold coins. Do these things look real?
I don't know anything about these, but I would assume that a gold one dollar coin would be twice the size and weight as a gold half dollar coin.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia California gold coinage was produced from the early 1850s until 1882. In the early period, from roughly 1852 through 1856, the coins were made for actual use due to a lack of familiar small denomination currency in the California gold fields.[1] This shortage eased around 1856 and the gold coins made in the later period appear to have been intended only as souvenirs. They generally show little circulationwear and contain less gold than would be expected from their face value. California gold was made in denominations of $1, 50 cents, and 25 cents. As a result, the coins were quite small. Some are round; othersoctagonal. They were issued by private businesses, usually jewelers, and were often hand-struck. ******** I suppose the poor quality could be because of being struck by hand.
Cali fractionals always look funny to me. Bechtler gold pieces look better than these. As for their authenticity, I say real??? 3 question marks on purpose
I am inclined to believe that both of them are real. While my (1955) reference on Small California and Territorial Gold Coins does not have photos, the descriptions seem to match your coins. First, the quarter dollar. There are three similar tokens, of which I believe yours to be number 22. These descriptions come from the quarter dollar octagon section. 20. 1859 Large Liberty Head w/8 stars Obv. - Large Liberty head, 8 stars, obverse die break Rev. - 1/4 Dollar 1859 in open wreath, the 1/4 in the opening. Short solidus in fraction. Similar to #21, but R in dollar does not touch wreath. 21. 1859 Large Liberty Head w/8 stars Obv. - Large Liberty head, 8 stars, stars crudely shaped. First star on left below point of chin, peak of coronet points between 4th and 5th stars, the last 2 stars behind the head. Attempt at sawtooth border Rev. - 1/4 Dollar 1859, inside wreath, the 1/4 in opening; no solidus in fraction. The D and R in DOLLAR touch the wreath with part of the R recut; there are several recut leaves on the wreath and several detached ones. No berries on wreath. The figures in date are all different sizes with each getting larger beginning with the 1. No serifs on either of the 1s in date or fraction. Crude bow know, two loops, short ribbands. Attempt at reeded edge. 22. 1859 Large Liberty Head w/8 stars - FD Obv. - Large Liberty head, 8 stars, letters FD on coronet. Rev. - 1/4 Dollar 1859 in open wreath, no solidus in fraction. Similar to 21. The common characteristics seem to match up very well, and I do not see a solidus in the fraction. I do see an F on the coronet, but could not make out a D.
I believe the one with DOT on the reverse is a token produced by the California DOT. These where copies of the original fractional pieces produced as a novelty. Not sure on the other on though.
I own a fractional piece. BG 308. Took me forever to validate it was real. While I am no expert on these they look real to me!
The half dollar round is either #43 or #44, I could not determine which from your photos. 43. 1854 Small Liberty Head w/14 stars Obv. - Small Liberty head, 14 small, well engraved 5 pointed stars. With the 1st star on left under the head, the 2nd opposite the tip of the neck, and the peak of the coronet points just below and ahead of the 7th. Sawtooth border both sides, plain edge. Rev. - Half Dol. lower left and left; California above to right; and Gold, lower right, around and outside a small, open wreath, which has 17 berries; very small triangular bow knot, no ties, and two short ribbands. 1854 in the wreath, the 4 smaller and a small period between the 8 and 5. Many of the letters are double cut. 44. 1854 Small Liberty Head w/14 stars Obv. - Same as 43 Rev. - Same as 43, except the O in California is re-cut over a horizontal O Aside from my not seeing 17 berries (which could be a combination of my old eyes/quality of photo), the description also seems to be a very good match with your coin. Count the berries with coin in hand and let us know how many you see, and if the O is re-cut over a horizontal O or not. Nice coins.
The DOT joke was in reference to the DOL on the back. I have heard if it has this it is probably real.
