2012-01-19 11:40:25 Adam Daubney adaubney 2012-01-19 12:05:00 Adam Daubney adaubney LIN-801286 TOKEN A copper-alloy 1849 California "Gold rush" gaming token in the form of a Liberty head half eagle gold piece. The obverse depicts Liberty with a coronet in her hair, encircled by thirteen stars, symbolic of the thirteen original colonies (one star is missing due to a hole drilled through the coin). Below the head is the date 1849. The reverse depicts a "49er" gold miner with top hat crouching by a river. The miner holds a very large nugget. In front of him is a spade, and in the background are two palm trees. Above is the word 'CALIFORNIA', and below is the date 1849. The hole is located so that is is in front of Liberty and to the top right of the miner. California gaming tokens date from the gold rush era and afterwards. They bear the obverse inscription 'California' or 'California Counter' or 'California Token' on them, and picture liberty heads, gold panners, flags, eagles, and bears (Stephen P. Albert and Lawerence E. Elman, 1992, Tokens and Medals - A guide to the Identification and Values of United States Exonumia). According to Fauver such contemporary 'gold rush' tokens were produced in Europe for use as gambling tokens (Fauver, L.B., Early California Counters (Oak Grove Publications, 1991)). A copper-alloy 1849 California "Gold rush" gaming token in the form of a Liberty head half eagle gold piece. The obverse depicts Liberty with a coronet in her hair, encircled by thirteen stars, symbolic of the thirteen original colonies (one star is missing due to a hole drilled through the coin)... Copper alloy Struck or hammered MODERN MODERN 1849 1849 21 Complete 2012-01-19 11:40:25 LINCOLNSHIRE WEST LINDSEY FISKERTON POINT( ) From Map TF07SE TF0572 29.06.2003 Metal detector 1 LIN Creative Commons Non Commercial Share Alike - The Portable Antiquities Scheme 2012 These records can be reproduced in a non commercial enviroment as long as the original recorder is cited. The Portable Antiquities Scheme info@finds.org.uk No fees are applicable.