Need Help Identifying, is it real?

[Treasure_Hunter]

I got off work today and decided to do a little searching in a locak park. I found 3 items of interest, a 1945 wheat penny, a ring missing a stone, the 7th ring I have found in a little over 2 weeks, but the item I am having trouble with and need some help was the last item. I figure it can't be what it appears to be so I will ask those with a lot more knowledge.

The item was under about 3 inches of mulch and another inch of dirt, it was very dirty, but I could tell it might clean up nice so I finished up my hunt trying to believe it is just a toy.


It is just a hair under 1/2 inch in diameter, or about 2/3 the size of a dime.

Here it is.

Front

Back

 

[wesfrye53]

Re: Need Help Identifying

Just a toy? Is it gold? Nice finds!

 

[nealb]

Re: Need Help Identifying

TH, here's a link to one on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1854-CALIFORNIA...0227738QQihZ018QQcategoryZ39473QQcmdZViewItem

Nice find. Hope it is real.

HH

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

nealb

Thanks, I will probably go by a coin shop one day this weekend so they can confirm what I suspect, that the coin is a repro, and not real, either way it was fun finding it

 

[l.cutler]

I am not up on California gold, but I do know they are one of the most reproduced tokens.

 

[Marty-Graw]

it is my understanding that they put the bear on the repros.....but I'm not 100% positive

 

[PBK]

All genuine California fractional gold coins will bear the denomination CENTS, DOL. DOLL., or DOLLAR.

Here is a link to some good information on the replica and fantasy pieces:

http://www.calgoldcoins.com/

 

[snappy]

http://www.calgoldcoin.com/bears.htm

Large smooth squatting bear with a thick upturned tail.
Plain blobs for ground underneath
Plain floral pattern in front and behind
Denomination in large letters in middle
"CALIFORNIA GOLD" in arc across the top
With porous surfaces, line drawing head, flat stars
Seen in modern souvenir presentation holders, known to have been produced as late as 1972
Only seen in 1/2 size

Daniel Hurkett produced a 10 coin presentation set of these in 1972 Andy Gunderson reports that the dies are now destroyed and that they were sold in a 7 piece braclet, 7 piece holder, 25 piece map, 100 piece pouch. Other combinations have also been noted. These tokens are goldene brass and contain no gold. They are *extremely* common and valued at $1-3 each.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Thanks guys, I found a website that says basically the same thing as MartyG, all repro's have the bear, and like PBK says, they will have CENTS, DOL. DOLL., or DOLLAR on the coin.

It is a repro , but I think because of the easy way it cleaned up, and it really shines up nice that it is probably gold plated. Either way it was a surprise to find.

I still did find a silver ring in the same park, but it has an empty mounting, it is missing what ever was in it. I have found 7 rings the last 2 weeks,3 of them silver, I am hoping that means I am on a streak and will find a nice gold ring again soon.

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

God thats an ugly token, congratz! As for the ring, always check your hole for missing stones and wheres the pic?

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Thanks Snappy,

Through your link, I got to this page, last pictures on bottom of page is identical to the one I found. Article says some were gold plated and others were just brass.

http://www.calgoldcoin.com/bear1.htm


Thanks to all who helped.