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.

Now I have a problem with saving my limited coin budget dollars until I have enough to buy a really nice coin. I tend to spend what I have each month on whatever I can afford. No will power I guess. So, I did the next best thing. I consigned a number of coins (which were marginal to my collection) to a fellow who runs an ebay on-line store. Offered at 99 cents starting bid with no reserve, I was very nervous. Some of these coins were nice. But as it turned out, the auctions generated more in sales then what I had paid for these coins. So, then I had enough to buy my coin (and a few others) from this seller. A great (and honest) guy to work with: Chris Terry at OldWestGold

Anyway, here is the coin. It is a BG-799CC (Rarity 6) made by Nast, Greenzweig and Company. It was the only octagonal quarter-dollar made by this maker, and the only octagonal quarter-dollar dated 1882 in the entire California Gold series.

Got one !!