Original "slugs" ($50 Gold Coins) were struck for use in public commerce during the California Gold Rush. Flourishing prominently, albeit briefly, during San Francisco's turbulent 1850's, the coins' unique historical image and commercial significance vividly recalls a dynamic, and romantic, period that has forever changed our nation and the world.
An octagonal facsimile is similar to the U.S. Assay Office $50 gold piece. The obverse features a heraldic eagle perched on a rock, clutching arrows and shield in its right talons, an olive or laurel branch in the left, and a ribbon in its beak. Inscribed in the banner above may be the fineness - 880 THOUS, 000 THOU, etc. - or a phrase like IN GOD WE TRUST, which provides a diagnostic feature usesed to make type and variety distinctions.
As early as 1899 and continuing through 1950, attractive gold-plated or gilt brass octagonal facsimiles of the California $50 gold piece were popular as commemorative souvenirs at California fairs, civic celebrations and expositions. Political and fraternal convention delegates displaying a slug size, gilt badge were readily recognized as representatives from the Golden State. Surprisingly, facsimiles of the original round slugs struck by Kellogg or Wass, Molitor have not enjoyed the same level of excitement.
IRVINE & JACHENS FACSIMILES
The following Irvine and Jachens facsimiles are described by their varying reverse images and/or legends, each piece with the same obverse (see image at right): IMITATION OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG, USED BY THE PIONEERS/ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ (000 THOU. in banner)/ (pic- eagle with ribbon in beak, clutching branches and arrows in talon)/ FIFTY DOLLS.
1205. California. $50 Gold Facsimile. Reverse, legend: THE DAYS OF OLD THE DAYS OF GOLD THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE/ ( image of a prospector standing, panning for gold)/ CALIFORNIA. Oct, brass, 41mm. Pre-1912. Unc. Est. $50-100
1206. California. $50 Gold Facsimile Fob. Reverse, legend: SOUVENIR/ REMINISCENCES/ OF CALIFORNIA/ THE DAYS OF OLD/ THE DAYS OF GOLD/ THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE/ DESIGN PAT. APPLD FOR/ C.G. BRINKERS S.F. Oct, brass, 41mm, fob top. Very toned. Fine. Est. $50-150
1207. California. $50 Gold Facsimile. Reverse, legend: THE DAYS OF OLD THE DAYS OF GOLD THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE / SOUVENIR/ (company logo)/ DESIGN PATD APPLIED FOR/ PANAMA PACIFIC/ INTERNATIONAL/ EXPOSITION/ SAN FRANCISCO/ 1915/ IRVINE & JACHENS. Oct, br, gilted, 41mm. Au. A similar piece, but with a fob top, realized $126.00 in Superior’s Jan. 1999 sale. Est. $100-300
1208. California. $50 Gold Facsimile. Reverse, legend: THE DAYS OF OLD THE DAYS OF GOLD THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE / SOUVENIR/(company logo)/DESIGN PATD APPLIED FOR/ PANAMA PACIFIC/ INTERNATIONAL/ EXPOSITION/ SAN FRANCISCO/ 1915/ CALIFORNIA. Oct, brass, 41mm. Unc-Bu. A similar piece realized $336.00 in our May 2001 sale. Est. $150-300
1209. California. $50 Gold Facsimile. Reverse, legend: CALIFORNIA/ DELEGATION/ REPUBLICAN NATIONAL/ CONVENTION/ CHICAGO/ JUNE 8, 1920/ IRVINE & JACHENS, S.F. Fob top. Other badges are know for Democrat and Progressive party delegates. California’s population in 1920 only permitted 26 delegates both from the Republican and Democrat Conventions. This is the first offering of a rare California delegate badge. Oct, brass, 41mm. Au. $75-150
1210. California. $50 Gold Facsimile. Rev: Reverse, legend: THE DAYS OF OLD THE DAYS OF GOLD THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE / (image of a prospector standing, panning for gold)/ California. Very similar with the Pre-1912 piece listed above. Oct, brass, 41mm. Unc. Est. $75-150
1211. California. $50 Gold Facsimile. Reverse, legend: THE DAYS OF OLD THE DAYS OF GOLD THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE/ (image of a prospector kneeling, panning for gold)/ CALIFORNIA. Oct, brass, 41mm. Unc. Est. $75-150
1212. California. $50 Gold Facsimile. Reverse, without legend: (image of a prospector kneeling next to a shovel, panning for gold). Oct, brass, 41mm. Unc. Est. $50-100
1213. California. California Official Centennial $50 Facsimile. Reverse, legend: CALIFORNIA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION/ (image of sun shining on a palm tree)/1850-1950. Oct, br, gilt, 41mm. Reverse has several dark spots. Bu. Est. $50-100
1214. California. $50 Gold Facsimile. Uniface, which may have been for presentation engraving. Oct, brass, 40mm. Bu. Est. $50-100
1215. California. $50 Gold Facsimile Fob. Reverse, legend: SOUVENIR / REMINISCENCES /OF CALIFORNIA/THE DAYS OF OLD/ THE DAY OF GOLD/THE DAYS OF FORTY NINE/DESIGN PAT. APPLD FOR/C. G. BRINKERS S. F. Oct, brass, 40mm. Fob top. Au. Est. $75-125
1216. California. $50 Gold Facsimile. Uniface, which may have been for presentation engraving. Oct, brass, 40mm. Bu. Est. $50-100
1217. California. $50 Gold Facsimile Reverse, legened: SOUVENIR PIONEER DAYS OF CALIFORNIA THE DAYS OF ‘49/(pic of California State Seal at center). Oct, brass, 40mm. Au-Unc. Est. $50-100
End Irvine & Jachens Facsimiles
1218. California. $50 Gold Facsimile. IMITATION OF FAMOUS CALIFORNIA FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD SLUG USED BY PIONEERS/ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/(image of Federal Eagle)/FIFTY DOLLARS/1850//50. Oct, brass, 41mm. Eye at top. Bu. Est. $25-75
1219. California. California Half Dollar Imitation Gold Octagonal. (pic of Indian Head)/1852//CALIFORNIA GOLD/1/2/(pic of Bear). Octagonal imitation California Gold coin. Oct, gilt brass, 12mm. BU. Est. $25-75
1220. California. California Official Gold Discovery Centennial 1848-1948. Obverse: CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA/ (pic- of kneeling gold panner with cabin in background)/ 1848-1948. Reverse: California state seal, with bear above warrior woman. In original booklet, which briefly explains the CA gold discovery. The case is substantially more rare than the medal. BU, with dark tone to high points. A similar piece without the original case of issue realized $74.75 in a Superior sale. Est. $20-40
1221. California. California Official Gold Discovery Centennial 1848-1948. Obverse: CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA/ (pic- of kneeling gold panner with cabin in background)/ 1848-1948. Reverse: California state seal, with bear above warrior woman. Bu. Est. $25-50
1222. California. MGM Prop $50 Gold Facsimile. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ (image of Federal Eagle)// blank. Oct, brass, 41mm. These facsimiles were made from an actual $50 slug mold, painted gold for movie production, a great find for both for the gold slug collector, and for the cinema aficionado. Very crude detail. A similar piece realized $64.00 in our May 2001 sale. Est. $50-100
1223. Chicago. Thompson’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary $50 Facsimile, 1906. “EXACT WEIGHT AND SIZE OF FIFTY DOLLAR GOLD PIECE ISSUED 1851” obverse legend, with “FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY THOMPSON RESATURANTS” and an Federal Eagle at center. The coin is dated 1856 and 1906. The reverse has “THESE COINS ISSUED IN 1851 IN CALIFORNIA WERE REDEEMED BY THE GOVERNMENT. NOW VERY RARE VALUED AT $300.00 EACH.” Octagonal, br, 41mm. A piece similar to this realized $216.00 in our May 2001 sale. Vf-Xf. Est. $150-300
1224. General. Coca Cola Annual Convention $50 Facsimile, 1915. Obverse: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ IN GOD WE TRUST/ (pic- warrior woman wearing Roman style helmet)/ MCMXV. Reverse: ANNUAL CONVTN COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO./ (pic-Owl reading a book)/ MCMXV. Gem BU. A similar piece realized $81.00 in a Superior’s Jan. 1999 sale. Est. $75-150
1225. Los Angeles. San Pedro. N.S.G.W. 50th Anniversary $50 Gold Facsimile, 1927. 50TH GRAND PARLOR N. S. G. W. W. SAN PEDRO/ (image of a large sail vessel with sunset behind)/ 1927/ SEPULVEDA PARLOR No 263// 50/ J. A. MEYERS & CO/ LOS ANGELES. Oct, brass, 33mm. Au. This is the first offering of a very scarce NSGW piece. Est. $75-150
1226. Milwaukee. Milwaukee Numismatic Society 50th Anniversary Medal. MILWAUKEE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY/ 1934-1984/ (pic-spread-winged bald eagle/ Fifty// 50. Oct, frosted br, 40mm, Bu, still held in original case. A similar piece realized $67.50, Feb. 1999, without the original case and stand. Est. $25-50
1227. San Francisco. $50 Gold Facsimile. OFFICIAL BICENTENNIAL GOLD PIECE/CALIFORNIA/(image of Federal Eagle)/COMMEMORATIVE/ OLD SAN FRANCISCO MINT/(image of mint)/AMERICA’S BICENTENNIAL 1776-1976/THIS CALIFORNIA GOLD PIECE IS A PURE 18 KARAT/GOLD COMMEMORATIVE PATTENTED AFTER THE/FAMOUS 1851 $50 GOLD PIECE MINTED IN/SAN FRANCISCO. IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST GOLD/PIECES MINTED IN CALFIORNIA. IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, THE GOLD FLOWING FROM RICH/CALIFORNIA MINES THROUGH THE SAN FRANCISCO/MINT CONTRIBUTED TO THE WEST ECONOMIC/GROWTH OF CALIFORNIA, THE WEST/AND INDEED THE NATION/MINTED BY/UNITED STATES GOLD CORPORATION. Oct, brass, 41mm. BU. Est. $50-100
1228. San Francisco. $50 Gold Facsimile. SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA/(image of eagle with a rabbit in talons)/FIFTY//(50 at center of coin). Oct, brass, 39mm. Weak strike. Vf. Est. $25-75
1229. San Francisco. $50 Gold Parker Facsimile. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA/ 1809 GRS 887 THOUS (in banner)/ (image of eagle with ribbon in beak, and clutching arrows, branches and shield in talon)/ FIFTY// (image of Liberty)/ 1855. Rd, brass, 41mm. Bu. Est. $100-300
1230. San Francisco. $50 Gold Parker Style Facsimile. SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA/ (image of Federal Eagle)/ FIFTY// 50. Oct, brass, 41mm. Unc. A similar piece realized $161.00 in Superior’s Jan. 1999 sale. Est. $75-150
1231. San Francisco. Pacific Coast Numismatic Society Commemorative Medal, 1975. Octagonal, brass, 40mm. A commemorative medal marking the 60th year of the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society. The obverse shows a scene of a sunset over the ocean. The reverse shows the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. BU. Est. $25-75 California.
1232. San Francisco. Pacific Coast Numismatic Society Commemorative Medal, 1980. Octagonal, brass, 40mm. A commemorative medal marking the 65th year of the Pacific Coast Numismatic Society. The obverse shows a scene of a sunset over the ocean. Stamped on the sun is “65th Year, 1980. The reverse shows the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. BU. Est. $25-75 .
1233. San Francisco. Pacific Coast Numismatic Society Commemorative Medal, 1982. Octagonal, brass, 40mm. A commemorative medal for the 800th meeting held in 1982. The obverse shows a scene of a sunset over an ocean. The reverse has “P. C. N. S./800th Meeting/November 14, 1982/San Francisco/California. Xf. Est. $25-75
