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

Bear #2

Shagy bear with a mane and lion's head
Ground underneath
Fancy floral pattern in front and behind
Denomination in large letters in middle
"CALIFORNIA GOLD" in arc across the top
Several dies seen, each apparently hand cut
Line drawing heads, but finer work than the bear #1 coins
Seen with 1932 Olympics and 1936 Bay Bridge obverses
Seen in 1/4 1/2, and 1 size

Reported by Andy as made by Motivations research and later by Art Smith with "replica" on the reverse. 1970s or later. See also wreath #6.

Burnie reports that most of these are known with "ALL Dates 1849-1860"

38 varieties listed

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Bear #2, all are 13 stars, line drawing style, medal orientation
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Round 1/4
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1852 Liberty #1; unusually small bear has nose pointing to leaves+

1852 Liberty #2, obverse of #1

1853 Liberty #1, 8 widely double punched; bear nose in leaves+

1853 Liberty #2, 8 widely double punched apparently the same die as prev; bear nose in flower

1853 Liberty #3, huge stars; bear nose in flower, but differs from #2

1854 Liberty #1, light obv crack at K2, heavy rev crack at K8 (Ebay picture).

1854 Liberty #2, obverse similar to #1, bear nose in leaves.

1855 Liberty #1, small bear head, walking on grass, nose in flower+

1855 Liberty #2, large bear head, few marks for ground, nose in flower+

1856 Liberty #1, small bear, nose in flower, cracks at K5,7,9:30 +

1856 Liberty #2, smooth bear, back from foliage, obverse star positions differ from above

1856 Liberty #3, High relief bear, smaller stars than #1. Same as #2?

1857 Liberty #1,(House in the Woods Inc picture)

1858 Liberty #1, same shattered reverse as 1858 Indian #1+

1858 Liberty #2, same obv as #1, apparently an earlier striking in 14K gold
Earlier style bear with some striking weakness causing the smooth area

1858 Liberty #3, same obv as #1, large obverse cud/late die state. Reverse exceptionally close to #1, but fraction bar points higher and vegetation is slightly different.

1859 Liberty #1, large bear head, few marks for ground, nose in flower +

1859 Liberty #2, nose just above flower.

1860 Liberty #1, large bear head, few marks for ground, nose in flower +
The illustrated token is in an original Kenny Lee sales packet.

1860 Liberty #2, old style bear with solid ground beneath, nose in flower. (Yes, this token is a gorgeous proof striking, as illustrated) Apparently solid gold and at least 14K.

1852 Indian #1, bear nose in flower.

1852 Indian #2, bear nose in flower
The illustrated token was apparently glued into some holder, causing the worn obverse and residue on the reverse.

1852 Indian #3. First feather ends under a star (same as #1), small bear with nose in leaves.

1852 Indian #4, apparently the same as #2 above, bear nose in leaves

1853 Indian #1.

1854 Indian #1 (large stars), bear nose in flower (Ebay picture).

1854 Indian #2 (small stars), bear chin in flower.

1856 Indian #1, bear nose in flower.

1857 Indian #1, head as seen on Bear 14 pieces

1857 Indian #2, head as seen on Bear 14 pieces, larger stars. Same reverse as #1?

1858 Indian #1, many cracks, bear nose above flower, shattered +

1858 Indian #2, large, crowded stars +
Kenny Lee holder?

1858 Indian #3, large, crowded stars, same as #2?. Bear nose just below flower.

1859 Indian #1, bear nose in leaves+

1859 Indian #2, small bear, walking on rocks, nose in flower+

1859 Indian #3, small bear, walking on rocks, nose in flower. Same obverse as #1 and #2, reverse is a close copy of #2, but 1/4 larger and higher, letters smaller, bear smaller.

1859 Indian #4, head forward with first feather ending underneath star 7. Small bear, nose low in flower.

1859 Indian #5, obverse of #4, reverse of #1. Exceptionally bright.