363, Lot: 456. Estimate $75. Sold for $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

TOKENS, California Counters. Brass Game Counter (35mm, 22.54 g, 6h). Dated 1850. CALIFORNIA GOLD MINES A.D. 1850, two bears standing and wrestling; small plants to either side / CALIFORNIA GOLD MINES 1850, Federal eagle facing, shield on chest, wings spread, head left, grasping sheaf of grain with its claws; five stars above. Cf. John J. Ford Collection (Stack's, 16 October 2007), lot 3257 for type. Near EF, toned, marks and scratches. Interesting obverse design. Rare(?).

The date on this counter is not contemporary with its actual time of issue.