Back to Mike Locke's small gold tokens with bears index.

Bear #11

Left facing tailless bear shapped a little like a wolf. Hind legs short, and mountain peak visible between legs. Date above bear, two half wreaths above "CALIFORNIA GOLD" in arc across top.

See also bear #6

31 varieties listed

********************************************************************
Bear #11, older style crying Indian, medal orientation
********************************************************************
Octagonal 1/4
*****************

1849 Liberty head #1, 9 stars around
Small standing shaggy bear facing left with 2 laurel half wreaths above. 1849 inside wreath "CALIFORNIA GOLD" outside and above wreath.

1849 Liberty head #2, 9 stars around, same as #1
Small standing shaggy bear facing left with 2 laurel half wreaths above. 1849 inside wreath "CALIFORNIA GOLD" outside and above wreath (not my coin).

1851 Liberty head #1, 10 stars around, same as 1854 #1
Small standing shaggy bear facing left with 2 laurel half wreaths above. 1851 inside wreath "CALIFORNIA GOLD" outside and above wreath.

1854 Liberty head #1, 10 stars around
Small standing shaggy bear facing left with 2 laurel half wreaths above. 1854 inside wreath "CALIFORNIA GOLD" outside and above wreath.

1849 Indian head #1, 8 stars around
Small standing shaggy bear facing left with 2 laurel half wreaths above. 1849 inside wreath "CALIFORNIA GOLD" outside and above wreath. The illustrated token has been rather crudely cut down to smaller than original size.

1849 Indian head #2, 7 stars around, star 4 is entirely over the first feather
Small standing shaggy bear facing left with 2 laurel half wreaths above. 1849 inside wreath "CALIFORNIA GOLD" outside and above wreath.

Sans-serif logotype

*****************
Round 1/4
*****************

1849 8 Star Liberty #1, on a rough-ish planchet that scanned remarkably well; all things considered.

1849 10 Star Liberty #2.

1849 9 Star Liberty #3. There is a fragment of a star (not counted) at the bust point.

1849 10 Star Liberty #4. Same as obv #2? Same rev as 1849 Indian #2.

1856 8 Star Liberty #1.

1849 10 Star Indian #1, gold plated+

1849 9 Star Indian #2

1849 Indian #3, 10 Star obverse of #1 (heavy clash), different reverse.

1849 9? Star Indian #4, reverse of 1849 Liberty #1.

1849 8 Star Indian #5, reverse of 1849 Indian #2.

1849 8 Star Indian #6, obverse of 1849 Indian #5.

*****************
Octagonal 1/2
*****************

1849 12 star Liberty #1.

1849 12 star Liberty #2, same obv as #1 but in a later die state, different reverse (not my coin).

1849 11 star Indian #1. Photo of token from the David Showers collection.

1849 11 star Indian #2. Obverse of 1849 Indian #1, reverse of 1849 Liberty #2.

*****************
Round 1/2
*****************

1849 9 star Liberty #1. This Liberty head style also seen on Wreath 3.

1849 9 star Liberty #2. Obv very similar to #1, same reverse as #1.
This Liberty head style also seen on Wreath 3.

1849 9 star Liberty #3. Obv very similar to #1 (same as #2?). This specimen is blurry. This variety is also known fairly sharp.

1849 8 star Liberty #4. Large bold stars. This specimen is blurry. This variety is also known fairly sharp.

1850 11 star Liberty #1. Same reverse as 1850 Indian #1. The illustrated piece is severely clashed, causing the distortion seen on the obverse.

1852 12 star Liberty #1. The Illustrated piece has a severe case of gilt peel.

1849 7 star Indian #1. Same reverse as 1849 Liberty #3.

1849 9 star Indian #2. Same reverse as 1849 Liberty #1 & 2. The obverse of this token shows clear signs of having been double struck. Note the ghostly secondary images of the stars clockwise from the primary images. These are paricularly notable on the top 2 stars.

1850 10 star Indian #1.

1852 10 star Indian #1.