0
  • entries
    34
  • comments
    0
  • views
    949

Entries in this journal

What's Up With This Coin ?

I am thinking about buying this coin, but it has an odd look. Any thoughts out there about the coin's condition? This coin has an odd look about it and not being an experienced US gold coin collector, I am looking for input. NGC has graded it an MS-61. Thanks. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.

California Gold Tokens

Arms of California gold tokens on eBay Howdy: If anyone is interested in California Gold Tokens, specifically Arms of California gold tokens, I have decided to sell a number of duplicates from my collection on eBay. OldWestGold (a well-known eBay seller of pioneer and fractional gold) will be listing about thirty or so pieces over the next few weeks. Might want to take a look. They are in NGC holders and as you may know, NGC will no longer slab these tiny gold pieces, so they are get
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Dr. "D" and the Automobile Accident

Ever notice how hard it is to drive by a recent car wreck and not look? It is so hard not to look. Not to view the good "doctor's" journals. Not to respond on the Chat Boards? It's like a car wreck, we just tend to look (even if it endangers us and others and slows down traffic flow). Human nature, I guess. In order to bring the Journals back to the subject of COINS, perhpas we should all just try not to look. Don't open his Journal entries with the word "Rant" in the title. Don't res
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Perhaps a Larger Issue

Lack of "posts" does not necessarily equate to a lack of "submission experience" Well, the whole Dr. "D" thing has been interesting (but I hope it goes away soon). Social media offers numerous new avenues to communicate and even problem-solve. Nonetheless, daily postings of a rant might be well over the top. Obviously there exists a bit of ego on the part of the good doctor - how many folks feel obligated to list their postsecondary degrees on a coin collecting forum? The issue which both
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Lady Blue Eyes

I have always had a "thing" for ladies with blue eyes... Every once in a while I wander away from California Gold and pick up something for my US type collection. I guess it is more of a loose grouping of US coins rather than a type set, but I buy what I like. I recently found Lady Blue Eyes. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Anyone Seen This California Gold Token Before?

Just got this 1880 Cal*Gold Reverse token and am seeking any information... Howdy: This 1880 "Cal*Gold" Reverse token is unlike any other in my collection (Custom Sets - Vintage California gold tokens). Does anyone know anything about this quarter-dollar sized gold token? It is close to a few of the token designs in my set, but different. Any information would be most appreciated. Thanks. CGTG PS: That's part of the fun with collecting California Gold Tokens - always findin
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Private Issue California Small Denomination Gold

Finally finished uploading the higher resolution images... Howdy: Well, it took some time but I finally uploaded the last high resolution image for this set of "private issue" California (small denomination) gold coins. It's more fun when you can actually see these tiny coins. Of course, with my scanner, the images lack the "pop" (brillance and/or color) that folks get with their cameras, but the scanner makes up for that by picking up each and every minor scratch, blotch, rub, etc.
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Fourth Custom Set (Vintage California Gold Tokens) Re-Imaged

There are lots of California gold tokens (vintage) available to collect - all are small in size... I really like California gold tokens and have collected them for a number of years. It wasn't until I got a scanner that I was really able to see these tiny pieces of history clearly. This is the forth set of gold tokens which I have re-imaged in higher resolution. It's fun to see the wide variety of these vintage tokens. Enjoy. CGTG To see old comments for this Journal entry, click her
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

California Hard Rock Miner Tokens - Images Improved

1883 and 1884 California "Hard Rock Miner" gold tokens are great to collect but are fairly small. So, as with the "Arms of California" gold tokens noted in an earlier journal entry, I have added higher resolution scans to make them easier to see (and appreciate). Check them out; search under "cal gold." Thanks. CGTG To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

California Gold Tokens - Time For Larger Images

California Gold Tokens are small, really small, tough to see in detail....or am I just getting older? Howdy Once Again: In my desire to actually see my California Gold Tokens in some kind of detail, I have started re-imaging them in higher resolution. I have completed the two sets of "Arms of California" aka "Eureka" tokens shown in the Custom Sets listing. Enter "cal gold" in the CUSTOM SETS search box to find these two sets. The scans, of course, lack the luster and color o
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Cal-Gold BG-878 Quarter-Dollar

Mr. Mohrig made some pretty cool coins in California Just thought I would post an image of one of my favorite California Gold small denomination coins. This one (1875 BG-878) was made by Christoph Mohrig of San Francisco. Mr. Mohrig made numerous "coins" and "tokens" during the 1870's and 1880's. Finally put out of business by the US Secret Service circa 1883, he died in San Francisco in 1904. He was one of the primary and most important makers of California Gold tokens and charms. To
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Another example of California Gold by Mr. Mohrig

One thing I like about Mohrig's Indian Head pieces, they don't all look identical Here is a BG-879 (1876) by Mohrig, which has quite a different look than the BG-878 I posted a bit earlier. Both coins are nice examples of his skill as a private (illegal) coin and token maker in California. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Colorful California Gold Piece

I like toned coins and I like California Gold coins, so... Color in gold coins, especially California gold coinage, is difficult to find (especially on a budget). One way to do so is to seek out "cleaned" California Gold, which sometimes tends to display a very beautiful rainbow patina. Now, I know "cleaned" is a bad word; not a four-letter word, but just as bad. But, every once in a while, you can find a toned coin that makes you forget about the cleaning, and simply enjoy the colors. Of
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

1882 California Gold Oddity

California Gold has its share of oddities; see more in the "Custom Sets" section under "Thematic and Topical" coins. Just acquired this 1882 California Gold token. It is the "Heron" obverse and "date in wreath" reverse. These types are fairly scarce and are almost always holed. This small token now joins my "Cal Gold" collection along-side the "Cherub" token that I described recently in a journal. Thanks for looking. To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

The Lighter Side of California Gold Tokens

Not all California Gold Tokens had Liberty Head or Indian Head designs... Some California Gold Tokens had a Washington Head obverse, some had a Hard Rock Miner obverse, and then there were those which were out there a bit. Scarce to rare, this set of California Gold Tokens dealt with other topics: birds, moon and shooting stars, herons, the bust of a "Chinaman" and even a cherub (or cupid ?). This series tended to share a more-or-less common reverse, the date within a wreath (although th

Gunsmoke Fan ?

This slug - was it inspired by the long-running (20 years) TV show, Gunsmoke ? Interesting medal. According to the fellow I got this from, a "Gunsmoke" fan had 500 of these minted to celebrate the slug that was used in the Gunsmoke "Treasure of John Walking Fox" Episode (Episode 406, Season 11, which aired on April 16, 1966). When an old buffalo hunter named Jacob Beamus is shot dead in self defense, his loyal Indian partner, John Walking Fox (Leonard Nimoy), starts paying for things with $50

California Mystery Medal Update...

A number of opinions exist concerning the "mystery" medal about which I wrote an earlier journal entry Well, there were a number of opinions about the "mystery" California medal which appeared in an earlier journal entry. One person thought is was a modern (dremell) alteration to a 1925 California Diamond Jubilee Medal. Most folks believed that is was an alteration of the 1925 medal. Malcolm had an interesting theory that unsold 1925 fobs/medals were reconfigured for use at the 1937 Golden
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Gold or Brass: That Is The Question

I bet this medal caused a bit of a stir when it was released in 1976 During the Bicentennial Celebration in the United States in 1976, many, many medals were marketed around the country as souvenirs. One such medal was a replica of the 1851 California Fifty Dollar Gold Piece. The obverse of this replica had an eagle with shield and banner, standing on a rock and the legend "Official Bicentennial Goldpiece Commemorative." The reverse, I imagine, caused a bit of a stir in that it identified
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Mystery California Medal ?

If anyone knows what this Medal is, and/or where it can be found in a reference guide, please let me know... I just received this Medal (ebay). I had one like it in my collection a while back. It looks identical to the 1925 California Diamond Jubilee Medal except the obverse legend ("California Diamond Jubilee 1925") is missing and the Golden Gate Bridge (I presume) is now residing in that spot on the obverse. It is also very similar to the 1937 Golden Gate Bridge Fiesta Medal except that
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

California Gold Rush Medals

Collecting California Gold Rush medals can be an interesting and enjoyable pasttime I just came across a nice gilt medal which celebrates the Semi-Centennial of the California Gold Rush (1848-1898). The obverse of the medal depicts a 49'er using a "rocker" to search for gold. The reverse shows a covered wagon pulled by a team of oxen. I have not seen one of this type before. Thought folks who have an interest in the California Gold Rush might enjoy this piece. Later. Cal Gold Token Guy
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

A Tough One Finally Caged

Every coin series has a number of tough coins - the California Gold series has many... It's not everyday that a collector living within a budget gets an opportunity to land a big fish; one of those tough dates or types which never seem to fit within an average collector's budget. The California Gold series has so many tough dates and types that for most collectors it is a [financially] impossible set to finish. But every once in a while, you get the opportunity to capture a big one. I did
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Privilege

Driving may be a privilege My cable company may feel that it is my privilege to be their customer and utilize their services. I do not. If their service is poor; if they don't treat me with a modicum of respect, I go elsewhere. People in a free market economy can do that. Driving - is a privilege, and most of the time a necessity for most folks. If you live in the middle of nowhere, few options exist. Therefore, a privilege and we need to comply with rule changes (which are usually made
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

NGC Does Not Make Mistakes, Mr. Cogburn

A mistake usually generates some form of explanation or even an apology I must take exception to the recent thread of journals which suggest that NGC makes errors in its certification and encapsulation processes. Should such mistakes actually be made, most companies would admit to such a error, and some would even apologize. I don't remember NGC ever giving me an explanation; certainly not an apology. Therefore, mistakes were not made. Right? Wrong. Take the token below. Labeled as
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0

Bully, Bully

The Venting Continues... I like NGC. They have certified all of my California Gold tokens; it took several years to get this process accomplished, and a bit of money. During that process I noted some errors were made. A Washington Head token was labeled as an "Arms of California" token (they look about as similar as a Morgan Dollar and a Trade Dollar). They tended to confuse "denominated" California Gold and "hybrid" gold tokens. But all was forgiven because they would fix the errors and
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

0
0