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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;willieboyd2, post: 2505005, member: 4910&quot;]The California Gold Rush was a major event in the state&#039;s history and early in the 20th century San Francisco&#039;s Irvine &amp; Jachens medal company and other companies began striking medals to commemorate it.</p><p><br /></p><p>A favorite medal design was based on the octagonal $50 gold coin or &quot;slug&quot;.</p><p><br /></p><p>They are cataloged in the book <i>Guide to Slugs and Facsimiles</i> by Thomas Jankovsky (2008).</p><p><br /></p><p>I recently acquired this one from a coin dealer&#039;s &quot;junk box&quot; for $5.00. The medal was probably made in the 1930&#039;s and is listed in Jankovsky&#039;s book as number 630.</p><p><br /></p><p>It has damage from attempts to remove certain words from the legends.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.brianrxm.com/posts/post_californiagold_pioneerdays.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>California Gold Discovery Centennial Medal - State Seal and Days of &#039;49</p><p><br /></p><p>The words in brackets have been smoothed over.</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse: California State Seal / EUREKA</p><p>[SOUVENIR] PIONEER DAYS OF CALIFORNIA / THE DAYS OF &#039;49</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse:</p><p>Copy of U.S. Assay Office $50 gold piece with eagle and shield</p><p>FACSIMILE [OF FAMOUS] CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD [SLUG USED BY THE] PIONEERS 1850</p><p>UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / FIFTY. / IN GOD WE TRUST in banner</p><p><br /></p><p>Bronze, 40mm, 24.06gm</p><p>Octagonal, medal orientation</p><p>Catalog: J-630 (Jankovsky)</p><p><br /></p><p>I can&#039;t think of a reason for the damage to this medal, can anyone else?</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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