Back to Mike Locke's small gold token index page.

This is an illustrated list of the California gold token related ephemera that I have encountered. This page is organized as advertisements, followed by cased sets, followed by carded sets.

Don't be afraid to use your horizontal scroll bar, many of these pictures are very wide.

The set numbering here does not cross reference to the set numbering used at the bottom of the tokens page. Someday I will get organized...

Ephemera

Illustrated and priced advertisement for Hart's token coinage.
Note that all of the listed tokens are scarce or rare today
The 36 token set included the same copper frame as the US Government Pan-Pac commemorative set
Only a couple of the complete sets were sold, and they are very valuable today.

This is the famous "COINS OF THE GOLDEN WEST" copper framed set that Farran Zerbe attempted to sell at the 1915 Panama Pacific exposition from the U.S. mint booth. Jay Roe estimates that 7 of these cased sets exist and perhaps 7 more sets without the case exist. This set has been known to top $10,000 at auction. Picture from the Brasher Bulletin, provided by Jay Roe.

Presumably late 20th century cased set with cardboard holder. Front left to right, the tokens are
Wreath4d Octagonal 1/4 1856 Indian #1
Bear13 1852 Liberty round 1/2 #1
Bear5 round 1/2 1853 Eureka/Minerva #1

Presumably late 20th century cased set with cardboard holder. Front left to right, top to bottom the tokens are
Wreath4d octagonal 1/4 1855 Liberty #1
Wreath4d octagonal 1/4 1856 Indian #1
Bear13 round 1/2 1851 Indian
Bear13 round 1/2 1852 Liberty
Bear13 round 1/2 1853 Indian

Very modern set still available in quantity and possibly still being made. The illustrated set is still in the original packaging.
Token are of unusually poor quality with crude engraving and possibly brass plated zinc composition. The attractive lucite 3 layer sandwich style holder is probably worth more than the tokens. These tokens are described on the main token page. This set made in Japan (see back picture)

Modern, but very nice set of tokens in an attractive holder. Unclear if this is a "put together" set or if the token manufacturer assembled it. The tokens match in quality and only 2 reverse dies were used to strike the 5 tokens.
The tokens are identified as (left to right, top to bottom):
Wreath4d Octagonal 1/4 1852 Indian #2
Wreath4d Octagonal 1/4 1853 Liberty #4
Bear4 Round 1/2 1852 Indian #1
Bear4 Round 1/2 1852 Liberty #1
Bear4 Round 1/2 1854 Indian #1, rusty devices
A reverse die crack on the round 1/2 pieces grows progressively bolder from 1854 Indian (no crack) to 1852 Liberty (short faint crack) to 1852 Indian (rim to rim arc, moderately bold crack).

Unknown vintage (probably 1950s or 1960s) set in snap close case mounted in cardboard.
The tokens are identified as (left to right, top to bottom):
Wreath4d Octagonal 1/4 1859 Liberty #1, modest rust
Wreath4b Octagonal 1/4 1857 Liberty #1, rusty
Wreath4d Octagonal 1/4 1853 Indian #1, rusty
Wreath4b Round 1/2 1856 Indian #1
Wreath4b Octagonal 1/2 1859 Liberty #1, moderately rusty
Wreath4b Round 1/2 1859 Indian #1
The case is a little beat up, it did not fair well in the mail.

Unknown vintage (probably 1950s or 1960s) set in snap close case tokens loose on a fiber insert.
The tokens are identified as (left to right, top to bottom):
Bear10a Round 1/2 1854 Indian #2
Wreath6 Round 1/4 1853 Indian #1
Bear5 Round 1/2 1850 Minerva #1
Bear10a Octagonal 1/2 1857 Liberty #3
Bear7 Octagonal 1/2 1852 Indian #1
Wreath4d Octagonal 1/4 1853 Liberty #2

Rather poor condition, but incredibly rare original box for the 1909 AYPE Alaska Gold token set. The contrast has been increased radically in order to make any detail visible. The box has the official seal of the exposition on top.

ACG slab containing a rare 1882 1/4 size token. Although incorrectly marked 25cent gold and obviously not an original holder, this slab is better than those offered by PCGS. The token is in a mylar sleeve which has been wedged between the inner gasket an the hole in the gasket. This makes the rim and edge of the token fully and clearly visible. Also, the slab is markedly smaller than those offered by PCGS.

Very common set seen offered at coin shows frequently in the late 1960s and early 1970s. 6 Bear1 tokens are inserted in the card.

Common mid-20th century token in an uncommon holder.
Coin holders of this style were popular for presenting gifts in
the 1920s and 1930s. The accompanying letter dated 1934 has darkened from continuous contact with the token holder.
The token is Bear2 Round 1/2 1859 Indian #2

Very common set seen offered at coin shows frequently in the late 1960s and early 1970s. 5 Bear1 tokens are inserted in the card.
The card comes in a vinyl envelope.

Very common set seen offered at coin shows frequently in the late 1960s and early 1970s. 7 Bear1 tokens are TAPED to the card (see picture of back of card).
The order form for more of these tokens is also illustrated.
Note that the card text describes these tokens as Goldine (a gold colored brass alloy).

Unusually attractive card display with unknown token types (Ebay picture).

Unusual packaging of a common token. Bear1, Round 1/2 Indian 1854 #1

Unusual? packaging of a common token. Bear10b, Octagonal 1/2 Indian 1852 #2. The vertical mark on the token is from a piece of plastic trapped in the holder. The holder has pin holes top and bottom.

Common card similar to #3, but brown instead of Green. Same tokens, this time scanned in the vinyl envelope. This set had a "California gold story" inserted into the back of the vinyl envelope (see scan).

Sealed plastic (vinyl?) holder declaring a 1865 Mexico Maximillian "fantasy peso" to be 8K gold

Card with 25 gold plated Bear 1 tokens inserted. Illustration appears to be the same as the 1972 Hurkett advertisement, but without the copyright notice at the bottom right.
Down the first row are
1852 Round Indian #2
1852 Octagonal Indian #1
1853 Round Liberty #1
1855 Octagonal Liberty #3

Down the middle row are
1855 Octagonal Liberty #2
1853 Round Liberty #1
1852 Octagonal Indian #1
1854 Round Indian #1
1857 Octagonal Liberty #1
1853 Round Liberty #1
1852 Octagonal Indian #1

1858 Round Liberty #1
1857 Octagonal Liberty #1
1854 Round Indian #1
1852 Octagonal Indian #1
1858 Round Liberty #1
1857 Octagonal Liberty #1
1854 Round Indian #1

Down the right side row are
1853 Round Liberty #1
1852 Octagonal Indian #1
1854 Round Indian #1
1857 Octagonal Liberty #1
1858 Round Liberty #1
1852 Octagonal Indian #1
1852 Round Indian #2

Card with 7 Bear 1 tokens inserted. Similar to card 8, but with more tokens in a different pattern. The tokens in this set have a poor quality gold plating. The tape on the backside for holding the tokens in place does not show in the scan. The set came wrapped in a thin celophane (acetate?) cover; unknown if this is original.

Advertising card for a bank in Sacramento. The card is a plastic laminate over a printed paper card. Circa 1970, based on the values given for California fractional gold coins. The token is Bear 1 Round 1/2 Liberty 1858 #1. It appears to be incompletely gold plated.

Original sales card for 1893 Columbian expostion Lord's Prayer "medalette". Prayer 1/4 1893 #2 attached.

Unusually nice jewelry piece (necklace) made from 1/4, 1/2, and 1 California gold Indian head tokens from the "Coins of the Golden West" set by M Hart. See also bear3 tokens.

Modern screw post earrings made by casting wreath6 round 1/4 1853 Liberty #6 in plastic. The findings appear to be brass. Both tokens are gold plated, but one of them has spotted in spite of the gold and encapsulation.

Christian cross made from pagan idol images. 6 1939 Charbneau sterling tokens, 2 with "40" counterstamp.

Modern earrings made by casting Bear 7 octagonal 1/2 1855 Liberty #1 and 1857 Liberty #1 in plastic. The findings appear to be brass. Both tokens are gold plated and fairly bright, but they do have a modest haze to them .

Old ribbon for pinning a Washington-Lord's Prayer token onto clothing. Prayer Round 1, undated Washington #1. The hatchet handle reads "I DID IT WITH MY LITTLE HATCHET".

NOT the recommended practice for packaging.