Back to Mike Locke's small gold tokens with wreaths (no bear) index.

Wreath #2

Stick figure Leaves in simple pattern following coin edge
Circle (not on all)
"CALIFORNIA GOLD" or "CAL. GOLD CHARM" inside circle with date in middle.

No denomination, 1/2 round size only seen.
Seen paired with an obverse also paired with Wreath #1
Seen with Arms of California and Indian head obverse.

38 varieties illustrated, plus 21 more reported

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Wreath #2, rusty punched heads
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Octagonal 1/4
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1875 Arms of California #1, spear point points at E, miner in right foreground, dots on shield,
half wreath with CALIFORNIA GOLD 1875 inside, 7 stars above
the illustrated coin is very weakly struck and has die gouges underneath the 5 in the date
Burnie type 15 No 1

Jay Roe reports 7! 1884 1/4 Octagonal Arms of California tokens struck from 4 obverses and 6 reverses (4 illustrated)

1884 Arms of California #1, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse Spear point points at U, continuous wreath, many cracks both sides
Burnie type 16 No 1

1884 Arms of California #2, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse Spear point points at U, continuous wreath
Obverse similar to #1 but figure smaller, U extremely wide, no bear, and blank below exergue
Reverse similar to #1 but date lower, serif on 1 much smaller
Is that Minerva or the Wicked Witch of the West? Same as 1888 #1.

1884 Arms of California #3, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse Spear point points at U (obverse of #1), continuous wreath
Reverse similar to #1 but date slightly lower.
The upper picture is of an early die state, the lower picture shows an impression the dies were repolished and the reverse possibly partially re-engraved.

1884 Arms of California #4, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse Spear point points at U (obverse of #1), crudely engraved date with large 1.

Jay Roe reports 3 1885 1/4 octagonal Arms of California tokens from 3 obverses and 3 reverses. I have one listed under wreath9, although this is probably not one of Roe's pieces. (2 illustrated)

1885 Arms of California #1, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse Spear point points at left side of U, wreath open at top.

A correspondent reports that one of these was mailed home to Sweden ca 1890, along with a BG799H, BG957, and 1888 US gold dollar; all as souvenirs from California.

1885 Arms of California #2, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse Spear point points at left side of U (obv of 1884 #1), wreath open at top (Brasher Bulletin picture, provided by Jay Roe)

1888 Arms of California #1,
*CAL. GOLD* CHARM 1888 inside a thin wreath. Wreath style somewhat different from the others. Same obverse as 1884 #2.

Jay Roe reports 2 different obverses for the 1891 Arms of California tokens (1 illustrated).

1891 Arms of California #1,
*CAL. GOLD* CHARM 1891 inside a thin wreath.

Jay Roe reports 1 1894 Arms of California quarter token (1 illustrated).

Augustus Humbert had one of these in his collection which was sold in May 1902.

1894 Arms of California #1.
*CAL. GOLD* CHARM 1894 inside a thin wreath. Augustus Humbert apparently had one in his collection.

Jay Roe reports one 1895 dated Arms of California 1/4 token.

Jay Roe reports one 1901 dated Arms of California 1/4 token.

Jay Roe reports one 1903 dated Arms of California 1/4 token (one illustrated).

1903 Arms of California #1, same as 1894 #1. *CAL. GOLD* CHARM 1903 inside a thin wreath. Photo of token from the David Showers collection.

1875 Indian #1, 16 star small head, as seen on Wreath 1 types. Reverse of 1875 Arms of Cal. #1, in a later state with a large cud at K1.

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Round 1/4
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Jay Roe reports 2 1875 1/4 round Arms of California tokens, 2 obverses and 2 reverses (3 tokens from 3 obverses and 2 reverses shown)

1875 Arms of California #1, spear points to E, miner in right foreground, dots on shield+ Same open wreath style as 1875 12 star Indian, Burnie type 15 No 2. This piece is fairly common. The illustrated token is unusually well struck and heavy (0.27 grams). This indicates that these tokens where probably struck in lower and higher grade gold, with the lower grade gold being more common (0.17 to 0.23 grams).

1875 Arms of California #2, apparently the obverse of 1853 Wreath 5 #1. The illustrated token is shedding its gilt.

1875 Arms of California #3, obverse with better than average engraving, reverse of #1. The illustrated token is lacquered and came in an old holder.

Jay Roe reports 5 1884 1/4 round Arms of California tokens from 4 obverses and 4 reverses (5 illustrated from 4 obverses and 3? reverses)

1884 Arms of California #1, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse + Spear point points at left edge of U, continuous wreath.
The date on this piece is ambiguous and might be 1894, rather than 1884.

1884 Arms of California #2, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse + Spear point points at right edge of U, continuous wreath. Burnie type 18 No 2?
First illustration shows late die state with obverse overpolished and reverse rim crumbling; second illustration shows early die state with dies perfect.

1884 Arms of California #3, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse Obverse very similar to #1 but spear points to right edge of U, reverse with smaller letters and inner ring. Burnie type 16 No 2. The first illustrated piece weighs only 0.08grams and has an obverse cud at K7. The second piece is unusually well struck and does not have the cud.

1884 Arms of California #4, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse
Obverse very similar to #2 but figure taller and shield semi-circular, reverse of #2 early die state

1884 Arms of California #5, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse
Obverse of #1, reverse of #3 but ground down and heavily reworked

Jay Roe reports 2 1885 1/4 round Arms of California tokens from 2 obverses and 1 reverse (2 illustrated).

1885 Arms of California #1.
Thin wreath *CAL.GOLD* CHARM 1885 inside. Seen with and without the reverse die cracked into 3 pieces. Cracked die illustrated (those aren't scratches running across the reverse).

1885 Arms of California #2.
Thin wreath *CAL.GOLD* CHARM 1885 inside. Spear points to center of U, helmet nearly touches K. Same reverse as #1.

Jay Roe reports 1 variety of 1892 1/4 round Arms of California token

Jay Roe reports 1 variety of 1894 1/4 round Arms of California token

1901 Arms of California #1, same as 1903 #1 below
Thin wreath *CAL.GOLD* CHARM 1901 inside
Lettering coarsely hand cut. Berries hang in space.

Jay Roe reports 2 1903 1/4 round Arms of California tokens from 2 obverses and a common reverse (1 illustrated).

1903 Arms of California #1, same as 1901 #1 above
Thin wreath *CAL.GOLD* CHARM 1903 inside
Apparently the same reverse as the 1901 Round 1/4, ground way down and drastically reworked by a more capable engraver. Letters smooth and refined, berries in space corrected, but both stars now blundered.

Louisianna Purchase Exposition obverse with the CalGold CHARM reverse of 1903 Arms #1 !!! (Brasher Bulletin picture, provided by Jay Roe).

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Octagonal 1/2
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Jay Roe reports 3 1875 1/2 Octagonal Arms of California tokens struck from 2 obverses and 2 reverses. (1 illustrated)

1875 Arms of California #1, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse with stars at top The illustrated piece is cupped.

Jay Roe reports 2 1884 1/2 octagonal Arms of California tokens, 2 obverse with a common reverse (2 illustrated)

1884 Arms of California #1, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse. 90 degree rotation. Spear point points at R, wreath is continuous. Diagonal water line in front of bear mouth, water lines at right nearly straight.
Burnie type 18 No 1?

1884 Arms of California #2, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse. Good luck telling this one from #1. The Spear point is slightly different, the bear's face differs and the details in the water are different. Horizontal water lines in front of bear mouth, irregular water lines at right.

Jay Roe reports 2 1885 1/2 octagonal Arms of California tokens 2 obverses, 1 reverse (1 illustrated).

1885 Arms of California #1, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse Spear point points at right side of U, wreath open at top.

Jay Roe reports 2 1886 1/2 octagonal Arms of California tokens 2 obverses, 1 reverse (2 illustrated).

1886 Arms of California #1, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse + Spear point points at U, continuous wreath
Burnie type 20 No 1

Massamore's Feb 1889 sale, lot 331 and 332 both list "1886. California Half-Dollar, Charms, Round and Octagon. 2.". The octagon is quite likely the above illustrated piece, also indicating that there is a matching round piece."

1886 Arms of California #2, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse. Possibly the same obverse as on the 1894 and 1899 tokens

Jay Roe reports 1 variety of 1892 1/2 octagonal Arms of California token.

The following token was not reported by Jay Roe..

1894 Arms of California #1, bisecting crack on obverse (what looks like a scratch)
*CAL. GOLD* CHARM 1894 inside a thin wreath. Scan of token from the Golden State Collector. 11.3x0.3mm, 0.31 grams.

Jay Roe reports 1 variety of 1895 1/2 octagonal Arms of California token.

Jay Roe did not the 1899 dated piece shown below.

1899 Arms of California #1, bisecting crack on obverse (what looks like a scratch)
*CAL. GOLD* CHARM 1899 inside a thin wreath. Similar to wreath 2 but not the same

Jay Roe reports 1 variety of 1903 1/2 octagonal Arms of California token.

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Round 1/2
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Jay Roe reports 1 1875 1/2 Round Arms of California token (1 illustrated).

1875 Arms of California #1, "CALIFORNIA *GOLD*" reverse.

Jay Roe reports 1884 1/2 Round Arms of California token (1 illustrated).

1884 Arms of California #1. The upper illustration shows one die state of the obverse with water lines around the "bear", while the lower illustration shows a different die state of the same die with no water lines, but a front right leg added to the "bear".

Jay Roe reports 2 1885 1/2 round Arms of California tokens from 2 obverse and 1 reverse (1 illustrated).

1885 Arms of California #1, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse+ Pointless spear points at E. Usually seen worn and discolored.

Jay Roe reports 2 1886 1/2 round Arms of California tokens (2 illustrated).

1886 Arms of California #1, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse. Eagle small, head under E. Apparently the same obverse as 1901 #1 and 1903 #1.

1886 Arms of California #2, "CAL GOLD CHARM" reverse. Eagle large, head under K. Apparently the same reverse as #1. Photo of token from the David Showers collection.

Jay Roe reports 1 variety of 1892 1/2 round Arms of California token.

Jay Roe reports 1 variety of 1894 1/2 round Arms of California token.

Jay Roe reports 1 variety of 1895 1/2 round Arms of California token.

1901 Arms of California #1, unlisted by Jay Roe. Apparently the same obverse as 1886 #1 and 1903 #1.

Jay Roe reports 2 1903 1/2 round Arms of California tokens from 2 obverses and 2 reverses. (1 illustrated)

1903 Arms of California #1, the complement to the round 1/4 listed way above here. Wreath is intermediate between #1 and #2, possibility demonstrating a link between them.

1875 Indian #1, 12 stars (same as 1857 wreath #1)+