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"

25 varieties listed

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Bear #2, all are 13 stars, line drawing style, medal orientation
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Octagonal 1/2
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1852 Liberty #1.

1854 Liberty #1.

1854 Liberty #2, obverse of #1, bear chin near leaves.

1854 Liberty #3, obverse of #1, bear nose to flower with chin away from leaves. This variety exists in early die state solid gold (shown) and late die state gilt copper.

1855 Liberty #1.

1856 Liberty #1, bear nose pointing towards flower
Gold plated brass? the illustrated piece has been polished.

1856 Liberty #2, bear nose pointing above flower.

1856 Liberty #3 (same obverse, with defect in loop of 5, bear nose pointing above flower. Leaf details differ from #2.

1853 Indian #1, bear chin just above flower same as 1853 #1?.

1853 Indian #1, bear chin just above flower. Apparently solid gold.

1853 Indian #2, bear chin just above flower. Same obverse as #1, reverse is an extremely close copy but vegetation differs slightly. Apparently gold plated brass.

1854 Indian #1, bear nose points at flower. Same die as 1856 Liberty #1?.

1854 Indian #2, obverse of 1854 #1, different reverse.

1854 Indian #3, obverse of 1854 #1, different reverse (Ebay picture).

1854 Indian #4, obverse of 1854 #1?, reverse very similar to #2 but details of leaves differ (Ebay picture).

1856 Indian #1, bear chin just above flower, apparently the same reverse as 1853 Indian #1.

1856 Indian #2, bear nose to flower, apparently the same reverse as 1855 Liberty #1 in a much later die state.

1858 Indian #1, bear chin just above flower, very weak strike +

1858 Indian #2, bear chin just above flower, very weak strike +

1859 Indian #1, bear nose in flower, same reverse as 1860Indian #1? Both dies clashed and cracked.
Gilt brass or copper, with the high points worn through on the illustrated piece. This token is also slightly bent.

1859 Indian #2, bear nose just above flower.

1859 Indian #3, bear chin just above flower. Reverse of 1853 #1

1859 Indian #4, bear chin in flower.

1860 Indian #1, bear nose in flower, same reverse as 1859 Indian #1?

(chin above flower also reported)

1860 Indian #2, bear nose in flower, tall head Indian