to put things in perspective this is $132 worth of gold based on today's spot value. this thing is round, yes. made of gold, yes. but it was made as a commemorative piece in 1993. It would be the same as if I melted gold down into a disc and made it a 'danimal' coin for use in the land of 'danimal'. it does not make sense that this is a coin. it is a piece of gold jewelry worth $132 in gold and probably a little more with the bezel which looks like silver; though I suppose it could be white gold or platinum even. but it is probably silver.
here is a quote from the Ft Knox website. "In 1933, gold was taken out of circulation. President Roosevelt decreed that no one was allowed to own gold. Exceptions were made for jewelry, dentistry, tools and coin collecting."
so basically anything lost prior to this date is safe to assume it was lost in the right context of being in circulation at the time. and yes, some may have been lost after that but this illustrates the point I am trying to make.
finding a true period gold coin lost in a true period context is exceedingly difficult. finding items which happen to be made of gold and are round and have an image of a panda, kangaroo, ewok, and were lost as a part of jewelry simply should not count. A modern piece of gold can still make banner. I am sure a 1oz modern gold slug worth $1300 would be nominated for banner though not by me.
I am not trying to take away from your approx. $150 find. that is a nice find and again congrats. but we need to collectively educate ourselves as to why this does not count. there was a nice button found today on this forum worth $150 and was really, really, historical and no one has nominated it banner. the automatic 'nominate for banner' just because it happens to be made of gold and is round is not the correct approach to things.
While scouting for 1850's sites, I once found a gold ring that was modern. for me I have zero interest in anything modern. I had it in my junk box for several years. I finally sold it to a jeweler fro scrap gold for around $100 but can't remember the exact amount. Again, I could have hammered it flat, inscribed 'danimal kingdom' and wore it as a necklace and lost it at the beach. totally different context and meaning than had I dropped an 1850's $1 gold piece in 1856. same rough gold value, but totally different meaning. I have never found a gold coin. but I know people who have spent years coming remote valleys, campsites, battle sites, etc. and they have only maybe found 1-3 at most. if at all.
if those same guys hunted for modern stuff, I am sure they would have found many more than that in the jewelry context. A lot of people wear these types of things. to include real Atocha coins in a bezel. real coin. but not in the right context.
even if it was an actual coin from a govt made in modern times, it would till not count in my opinion for the reasons already stated. a 2010 gold $20 coin is not worth $20. it is worth what an ounce of gold is worth. that's why they are made for collectors. totally different context than an 1860's gold $20 piece found by a detectorist. way different.
but you made more today in what you found in gold value than what I made today. congrats. any gold is welcome.... good luck and hopefully you will find more. again, not to take away from your find. I am trying to put in context the point I am trying to make and go against the current of this idea 'anything round and made of gold is a gold coin and automatic banner'. And this is a difficult idea to turn around so may points my seem crass but it is not meant to be. Again, $150 in gold on any day is a good day. congrats! congrats! congrats! congrats! congrats! and I am sure you will find more gold.... you did way better than I did today! good luck!
Maybe one day I will get a piece like this to fill my gap.
