1915 California Gold Dollar Token - X-Tn9

Coin Details

Auction Record

$411 MS62 07-15-2020 eBay

Description

The 1915 California Gold dollar, cataloged as X-Tn9, is the largest standard denomination among the privately produced California gold souvenir tokens from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The dollar denomination contained the most gold of the common token sizes and represented the premium souvenir option for fairgoers seeking the most substantial non-official gold piece available at the exposition. The gold dollar denomination placed these tokens in an interesting relationship with the official 1915-S Panama-Pacific commemorative gold dollar, which was struck by the San Francisco Mint and sold at the exposition for $2. The privately produced X-Tn9 gold dollar token would have been available at a lower price, offering fairgoers a gold dollar-sized souvenir without the premium commanded by the official United States commemorative issue. The 1915 California gold dollar token represents the culmination of the state's long tradition of privately produced small gold coins and tokens. From the genuine monetary necessity of the Gold Rush through the souvenir trade of the Gilded Age expositions, California gold tokens evolved from essential frontier money to cherished collectibles. The Panama-Pacific Exposition gold tokens, including this X-Tn9 dollar, mark the final chapter of this evolution, produced at the last great world's fair to generate significant quantities of private gold souvenirs.

Rarity Notes

Scarce to rare. The dollar denomination was produced in smaller quantities than the quarter and half-dollar tokens. Approximately 20-40 examples survive. The largest standard denomination among 1915 souvenir tokens.

Cross References

PCGS #704504; HK X-Tn9 (California Territorial Token)