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Remember the Joy of Collecting ?

Before the grading services, coin collecting was a hobby... For those of you out there old enough, remember filling that last space in a Lincoln Cent Album? Coin collecting was a hobby then. Now it is a bit different. I have been reading the latest journals and hear a lot of pain, anger, and frustration. Different colored labels drive some folks nuts. NGC's latest "bait-and-switch" with regard to PCGS world coins is making some collectors consider a new hobby. The silver eagle program a
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

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Second-Class Citizens

California Gold Rush "tokens" - second class citizens to the major grading companies... During the California Gold Rush, private makers (usually jewelers) minted small denomination gold "coins" many of which actually circulated as the need for coinage was intense (ever try to measure a "pinch" of gold dust with your fingers - bartenders were sometimes hired based on the size of their hands). These coins were deemed illegal by the US Government eventually and many of the folks making such coin
Cal Gold "Token" Guy

Cal Gold "Token" Guy

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"Indian Head Cali-fornia Gold" Tokens - Real Gold from California

"Indian Head Cali-fornia Gold" type tokens are fun to collect, reasonably inexpensive, and fairly easy to find. Howdy Again: OK, I don't have a clue as to who might have made these tokens. They all appear to be dated 1852 or 1853. They appear to be solid gold (probably 9K to 12K) and have appeared in auction catalogs and coin advertisements (Jay Roe, for example) for many years. They are not new tokens but vintage pieces probably from around 1880-1900. If anyone has more information, ple

Unusual California "Gold" Tokens

An olympic runner on a California gold token, or how about a dragon...? Howdy Once Again: There are a number of California "gold" tokens (most of the ones I am chatting about today are really gilt pieces) which are a bit different from what you might expect. The most common tokens seen on ebay, for example, are of the Indian Head or Liberty Head design, a few Arms of California design, and a few Miner with Pick design. However, an interesting group of tokens produced around 1932-1936, o

Washington: Alive and Well on the California Gold "Token" Series

Washington makes a brief appearance on California Gold Tokens... Howdy Again: Now most folks who have collected or even just wanted to collect California Gold "coins" (the "real" denominated pieces) know that some of the most sought after pieces have the bust of Washington on the obverse. These were made by Frontier & Company in the 1870's. What many folks do not realize is that Frontier & Company also made Cal Gold "tokens" or "charms" with the Washington obverse. All

The "Cal-Gold" Reverse Series of California Gold Tokens

These "Cal-Gold" reverse design tokens are the bridge between California Gold Tokens and California Denominated Gold pieces... Howdy Again: Another series within the California Gold Token world is the "Cal-Gold" reverse tokens, many made by Herman J. Brand of San Francisco. Brand was a major producer of California souvenir gold tokens as well as the better-known denominated pieces. Brand was one of the manufacturers who was targeted by the Secret Service for his production of

California Gold Miner Tokens - You Gotta Love Them !!

These small California gold tokens made by Herman Brand in 1883 and 1884 are great to collect.... Howdy Again- Just like I said in my last journal, some California Gold tokens like the "Arms of California" pieces have not been restruck or copied in modern times. The "miner" tokens made by Herman Brand of San Francisco in 1883 and 1884 are pretty unique. Brand was trying to get the US Secret Service off his case for making "counterfeit" gold coins, so he changed his designs completely

California Gold Tokens: The Good; The Bad; and The Ugly

California Gold "Tokens" are tough to figure out. It's kind of like panning for gold and knowing what to keep in the pan and what to dump out. The big nuggets are pretty obvious, but the smaller pieces are sometimes difficult to see... Howdy: Been collecting California Gold Tokens for about seven years or so. They are pretty cool but you have got to know a little bit about them before you reach into your wallet (or purse). There are a lot of replicas floating around; just look at eb

"Arms of California" Gold Tokens

Not all California Gold Tokens are created equal... Back Again: California Gold Tokens are not all the same. I like collecting the pieces called "Arms of California" tokens because the obverse looks like the California State Seal. Well, sort of. There is a seated figure of Minerva (although some of these tokens make her look like the Wicked Witch of the West). There are usually some mountains in the background, with ocean, boats, and usually a miner in the near background. There is
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