California Gold Discovery Medal - Octagonal Slug - Pioneer Days of '49

The California Gold Rush was a major event in the state's history and early in the 20th century San Francisco's Irvine & Jachens medal company and other companies began striking medals to commemorate it.

A favorite medal design was based on the octagonal $50 gold coin or "slug".

They are cataloged in the book Guide to Slugs and Facsimiles by Thomas Jankovsky (2008).

I recently acquired this one from a coin dealer's "junk box" for $5.00. The medal was probably made in the 1930's and is listed in Jankovsky's book as number 630.

It has damage from attempts to remove certain words from the legends.


California Gold Discovery Centennial Medal - State Seal and Days of '49

The words in brackets have been smoothed over.

Obverse: California State Seal / EUREKA
[SOUVENIR] PIONEER DAYS OF CALIFORNIA / THE DAYS OF '49

Reverse:
Copy of U.S. Assay Office $50 gold piece with eagle and shield
FACSIMILE [OF FAMOUS] CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD [SLUG USED BY THE] PIONEERS 1850
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY. / IN GOD WE TRUST in banner

Bronze, 40mm, 24.06gm
Octagonal, medal orientation
Catalog: J-630 (Jankovsky)

I can't think of a reason for the damage to this medal, can anyone else?

 

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Funny that someone would even attempt altering it as if they'd be able to convince someone that was actually gold lol.

 

Same reason some AT coins, follow the money. Wouldn't fool most, but all a seller needs is to fool one.

 

I have one the same on the pic