"1850" Gold Token California Gold Bear

Coin Details

Description

This gold token dated "1850" depicts a California grizzly bear and belongs to the broad category of California gold souvenir pieces that proliferated from the Gold Rush era onward. The quoted date indicates this may be a later restrike or commemorative rather than a piece actually struck in 1850. California Gold Rush tokens, charms, and souvenirs featuring the grizzly bear — the state's iconic symbol adopted for the Bear Flag Republic of 1846 and later the state flag — were produced by numerous private minters, jewelers, and souvenir makers throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Gold souvenir tokens from the California series range from genuine fractional gold coins struck by private assayers during the Gold Rush to much later fantasy pieces and tourist souvenirs. The bear motif connects this piece to the long tradition of California private gold coinage, where bears, miners, Liberty heads, and state seals appeared on pieces ranging from quarter dollars to fifty-dollar slugs. Authentication and precise dating of California gold tokens requires careful examination of die characteristics, gold fineness, and comparison with published references for the various known series.

Rarity Notes

California gold bear tokens exist in numerous varieties from multiple periods. Rarity varies significantly by die variety and period of manufacture. Gold content and fineness should be verified individually.

Cross References

PCGS #974199; California Gold souvenir token series