Back to Mike Locke's small gold tokens with wreath4 index.

Wreath #4d

Wreath with tripled, plain leaves, paired berries and tie
"CALIFORNIA" inside wreath in arc at top. "GOLD" inside wreath straight at bottom.

* in center. Leaves are formed by a simple open loop.

Only seen in octagonal 1/4 size.

22 varieties listed, 1 questionsble.

Careful study shows that some of the reverse variations listed here may not be true varieties. Patterns in rust or similar die degradation may vary considerably with die state and may disappear completely when a die is re-ground. This is a subject for further study.

The tokens marekd REPLICA in this series were struck and sold by Art Smith of Florida in the late 1970s. He claimed to have bought the dies from Financial Motivations. His father, Sidney Smith was observed to sell similar pieces in the 1960s; it is not clear if Sidney struck the tokens himself or bought them from Financial Motivations.

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Wreath #4d, medium star and letters. No wreath stem
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Octagonal 1/4
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1852 Liberty #1, 13 stars. Same reverse as 1853 Liberty #4?

1853 Liberty #1, 13 stars **** Rev #1, many linear defects (see 1852 Indian #1)

1853 Liberty #2, 13 stars ***** Rust pit between "cALifornia", rev #4
Later die state reverse illustrated with old rust polished out, lump at lower left of "gOld", lots of rust on the raised parts (now in much lower relief), rust in field, and some rim dots re-engraved. Bow ends slightly fragmented.

1853 Liberty #3, 13 stars Rev #3, lower twig in bundle at bottom small and does not reach rim dots (1852 Indian #3)

1853 Liberty #4, 13 stars (different obv than above, "low 3") Rev #2, defect outer lower left of G see 1852 Indian #2

1853 Liberty #5, 13 stars same dies as variety #2, but "REPLICA" now added to the reverse.

1853 Liberty #6, 13 obverse of #4, reverse of 1852 Indian #7. Apparently struck in 0.5mm thick solid gold (illustrated, note the pink-gold appearance) and also in 0.75mm thick solid brass.

1853 Liberty #7, cast copy of #4 or #6.

1855 Liberty #1, in each leaf triad, center leaf does not meet at base

1859 Liberty #1, obv rusty 6*. Seen in solid brass (shown, from set 6*) and solid gold. The brass token is 0.7mm thick and weighs 0.45 grams, while the gold token is 0.5mm thick weighs 0.53 grams and has a distinct pink hue.

1852 Indian #1, 13 stars. Broad head extends well past truncation feathers well away from stars Reverse, heavy die scratches at left Triple ends on bow knot, rev #1

1852 Indian #2, 13 stars, broad head feathers nearly touch stars Cracked at K12. Reverse has many rust pits, cast appearance. Triple ends on bow knot. rev #2. 0.7mm thick brass, despite the appearance.

1852 Indian #3, 13 stars. Stars large and near border, crying Indian ***** Double ends on bow knot rev #3

1852 Indian #4, 13 stars. Narrow head extends even with truncation + 8*

1852 Indian #5, 13 stars. Big downward pointing nose (same as crying Indian?)

1852 Indian #6, 13 stars obv of #3, REPLICA reverse as on Liberty heads

1852 Indian #7, 13 stars obv of #2, different reverse. Note very few defects and open loop outside lower left leaf group
Flashy, lustrous pink gold color does not show well in scan. Apparently issued in both 0.5mm thick solid gold (shown) and 0.75mm thick brass.

1852 Indian #8, 13 stars obv of #1, reverse of #3.

1852 Indian #9, 13 stars obv of #1, cast copy of this type.

1853 Indian #1, 13 stars, obv rusty 6*. Seen in both solid brass (shown, from set 6*) and solid gold. The brass is 0.7mm thick and 0.45 grams while the gold is 0.5mm thick and 0.53 grams. The gold has a distinct pink hue.

1853 Indian #2, 13 stars. Extremely crudely cast copy of #1. Surfaces are porous, metal is riddled with inclusions, edges not parallel, seam on edge, very thick and moderately heavy.

1856 Indian #1, unusual long point bust. The dies are rotated 135 degrees from medal. Same reverse as 1855 Liberty #1.