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

Wreath #4

Various shaped wreaths with a star in the center

Although the tokens illustrated here undoubtedly encompass Burnie types 34 and 35, it is not possible to distinguish which of the many design types shown here corresponds to those particular numbers.

See wreath 4b for a listing of the various Arms of California tokens with a star reverse.

My past attempt to classify the wreath types by the size of the star did not work. There is too much subjectivity in the evaluation of the relative size of the star and lettering. In this listing the wreath types are classified by the style of the wreath itself, primarily the tips of the wreath at the open end. The assignments were contrived to match as closely as possible to the first edition assignments.

Wreath4a: Three leaves at tips, the three points very close to the same length. The center leaf may protrude a little bit.

Wreath4b: Three leaves at tips, the center leaf is 50% to 100% longer than the others.

Wreath4c: One leaf at tips

Wreath4d: Line drawing leaves, the bunches are not connected to each other.

Wreath4e: Two leaves at tips

Several wreath 4 styles that defy categorization are listed at the end. Most wreath 4 tokens are attributed to Nathan Joseph. Jay Roe notes that these were sold in a boxed set of 4 in little velvet lined boxes. The boxes are rarer than the tokens. Note that Jay Roe attributes Wreath 8 varieties to Nathan Joseph also, and that there are (rare) die linkages between the two.

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Wreath #4a, three leaves even or nearly so. Usually with a large star.
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Detailed listing of Wreath4a varieties.

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Wreath #4b, three leaves, center protrudes. Usually with a small star.
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Detailed listing of Wreath4b varieties.

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Wreath #4c, 1 leaf
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Detailed listing of Wreath4c varieties.

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Wreath #4d, "Stick figure leaves", medium star and letters. No wreath stem
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Detailed listing of Wreath4d varieties.

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Wreath #4e, two leaves, usually with a small star.
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Detailed listing of Wreath4e varieties.

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Wreath #4f, like wreath 4b but style completely different.
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Detailed listing of Wreath4f varieties.

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Crude copy of wreath 4b
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Octagonal 1/4

1860 Indian 13 stars. Rude copy of Nathan Joseph's work.

Round 1/2

1857 Indian 13 stars, similar style to 1847 Bear 3 Indian head round 1. Rude copy of Nathan Joseph's work with wreath4c.