California Gold Tokens


California Gold Tokens were made during basically 4 different time frames.
1870-1920 Made with solid gold or with a higher grade plating over a 
    lower grade gold/silver/copper core.
1930's & 1940's - some gold, some gold plated..sometimes both for
    each variety!
1960's & 1970's - all brass, plated brass, etc.
mid to late 1990's - these are the Japanese tokens, all brass plated
    zinc.

Major Types of California Gold Tokens:
Most have a Liberty, Indian or Minerva(Roman) head on the obverse.
Example images of most types can be found below.
As designated by Mike Locke's research.

Bear Reverses
Bear Type 1: Bear tail pointing up. Late 1960's to early 1970's, 15% brass
             85% copper
Bear Types 2, 8, 9, 14: Bear facing right, straight or uneven back. These
             come from all time periods and range from brass, gilt brass
             on up to solid gold.
Bear Type 3: Bear facing right, straight or uneven back. Similar to prev-
             ious, but lettering is superscripted. Old, most 10k gold.
Bear Types 4, 7, 10, 12, 13: Bear facing right, rounded back. Modern; 
             brass, gilt/plated brass.
Bear Type 5: Bear facing left. Both old and 
             modern types, and range from plated brass to solid gold.
Bear Type 6: Bear facing left. Mountains and sun rays. Older, but
	     come both plated and solid gold.
Bear Type 11: Bear facing left, date on reverse, no mountains or sun rays.
             Older, but come both plated and solid gold.

Wreath Reverses:
Wreath Type 1: Thin wreath, old origin, most are gilt copper.
Wreath Type 2: California Gold & Date in a circle. Old origin, gold.
Wreath Type 3 & 5: Laurel type wreath. Old origin, from gilt to solid gold.
Wreath Type 4: Center star reverse. Old and modern. Most with connecting
               wreath leaves are solid gold, almost all with the wreath 
               leaves separate from each other are modern gilt brass.
Wreath Type 6: Calif. reverse. Almost all modern plated brass.
Wreath Type 7: Cal.Gold reverse, old origin, solid gold.
Wreath Type 8: Cali- Fornia Gold in 3 lines on reverse. Nathan Joseph circa
               1910, solid gold.
Wreath Type 9: Old gold tokens of various obverse themes like a bird, etc.
Wreath Type 10: Miner on obv, Q or H Cal.Gold Charm on rev. Old, solid gold.
Wreath Type 11: F.Gold reverse. Old, solid gold.

Eureka Type Obverse: Seated Minerva on obverse. Also referred to as Arms
               of California, California state seal. Mike lists these 
               under Wreaths 2, 3, 4 & 5. Old origin, gilt to solid gold.

Charm Type Reverse: No Wreath, marked Charm. Old, solid gold. Most varieties
	       are Washington or male head obverses.




It's very important to familiarize yourself with the modern Japanese set.

Often these sets are broken up and sold individually on Ebay. The full sets
regularly sell on Ebay for $10. Click on the the set for a larger view.




Bear Type 1 Bear tail pointing up



Bear Types 2, 8, 9, 14 Bear right, straight or uneven back



Bear Type 3 Small lettered o's



Bear Types 4, 7, 10, 12, 13 Bear right, rounded back.



Bear Type 5 Bear left.





Bear Type 6 Bear left, mountains/rays.



Bear Type 11 Bear left, date rev, no mountains/rays



Wreath Type 1 Thin wreath



Wreath Type 3s & 5 Laurel Wreath



Wreath Type 4 Center star





Wreath Type 6 Calif.



Wreath Type 7 Cal.Gold



Wreath Type 8 Cali- Fornia Gold



Wreath Type 9 Thematic obv.



Wreath Type 10 Miner obv, Q or H rev.



Wreath Type 11 F.Gold



Eureka Type



Charm Type





I highly recommend looking through Mike Locke's
guide to gold tokens here