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| California Gold Country |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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California Gold Rush Country Map
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Gold Country extends the length of California. However for my purposes here, I am only looking at the gold towns located near and around Highway 49 (with a few exceptions). Highway 49 extends basically from Sierra City in the north to Coarsegold in the south.
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| Weaverville, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Weaverville Historical Landmark and the Joss House
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Founded in 1850, Weaverville is a historic California Gold Rush town. Nestled at the foot of the current Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, Weaverville was once home to approximately 2,000 Chinese gold miners, and had its own Chinatown. Logging and tourism were the economic mainstays of Weaverville for many years. The Weaverville Joss House (also called "The Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds"), a Taoist temple, was built in 1874 and is California's best preserved example of a Gold Rush-era Chinese place of worship. The temple is now the Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park, and its interior, including an intricately carved wooden altar, can be viewed by visitors.
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View Coin
| (K-10) Weaverville, California Trade Token (No Date) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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50C NO DATE K-10 HENRY J. YOUNG K-10 WEAVERVILLE, CA.
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NGC TOKEN MS 64
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(K-10) Weaverville, California Trade Token (Henry J. Young) No Date
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| French Gulch, California |
United States California Gold Rush
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French Gulch Historical marker and historic store
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French Gulch was founded by French miners in 1849 and became one of California's major gold producing areas. The town became a major supply place when it became the terminus of the western branch of the California Trail. French Gulch was registered as a California Historical Landmark in 1935
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View Coin
| (K-6) French Gulch, California Trade Token (circa 1900-20) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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DRINK (C1900-1920) F-1 KINGS SALOON K-6 FRENCH GULCH, CA.
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NGC XF 40
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(K-6) King's Saloon, French Gulch, California Trade Token (circa 1900-20)
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| Redding, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Gold discovery marker at Clear Creek, Redding, California and 1905 Redding downtown
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The first European settlement in the area was established in 1844 by Pierson B. Reading, an early California pioneer who received a Rancho Buena Ventura Mexican land grant for a 26,632 acre area that is now occupied by Redding and Cottonwood, California. At the time of its establishment, it was the northernmost nonnative settlement in California. During the gold rush, the area that is now composed of Redding was called Poverty Flats. In 1868 the first land agent for the Central Pacific Railroad, a former Sacramento politician named Benjamin Bernard Redding, bought property in Poverty Flats on behalf of the railroad so that it could build a northern terminus there. In the process of building the terminus, the railroad also built a town in the same area, which they named Redding in honor of Benjamin Redding. Redding was officially incorporated on October 4, 1887
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View Coin
| (K-69) Redding, California Trade Token (circa 1900-20) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1900-20) GOOD FOR GROSS & SON ROYAL SALOON K-69
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NCS Genuine
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(K-69) Gross and Son Royal Saloon Trade Token (circa 1900-1920)
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| Oroville, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Oroville California Cemetery Marker and the Pioneer Memorial Museum
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The town was originally called "Ophir City", but the name was changed to Oroville when the first post office opened in 1854 ("oro" is "gold" in Spanish). The City Of Oroville was incorporated on January 3, 1906. Gold was found at Bidwell Bar, one of the first gold mining sites in California, bringing thousands of prospectors to the Oroville area seeking riches. The Oroville Chinese Temple dates to 1863 when 10,000 Chinese lived in Oroville (paid for by the Emperor and Empress of China).
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View Coin
| (K-15) Oroville, California Trade Token (circa 1900-1920) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1900-20) GOOD FOR U.M. DAMON OROVILLE, CA.
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NGC TOKEN AU 58
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(K-15) circa 1900-20 U M Damon (Oroville, California) Trade Token
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View Coin
| (K-99) Oroville, California Trade Token (circa 1910) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1910) GOOD FOR WILSON'S CIGAR STORE OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN AU 58
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(K-99) circa 1910 Oroville, California Trade Token (Wilson's Cigar Store)
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View Coin
| (K-3) Oroville, California Trade Token (circa 1900-1920) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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TOKEN (C1900-20) GOOD FOR ALPERS CIGAR STORE Oroville K-3 OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN MS 62
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(K-3) Circa 1900-1920 Alpers Cigar Store (Oroville, California) Trade Token (For Amusement Only)
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| Alleghany, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Caseys Place Bar and the Sixteen To One Mine, Alleghany, California
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Alleghany is located in Sierra County, California, in the Sierra Nevada. It is situated in the Gold Country and continues to be a significant locale for gold mining. The famous Sixteen-to-One Mine has been in operation since the days of the California Gold Rush.
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View Coin
| (K-1) Alleghany, California Trade Token (circa 1900-1920) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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10C (C1900-1920) K-1 ARMSTRONG BROS ALLEGHANY, CA.
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NGC TOKEN AU 58
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(K-1) circa 1900-20 Armstrong Brothers, Alleghany, California Trade Token
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| Nevada City, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Nevada City Now and Historic National Hotel
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Nevada City (originally Nevada, Deer Creek Dry Diggins, and Caldwell's Upper Store) was first settled in 1849 during the California Gold Rush, as Nevada. The Gold Tunnel on the north side of Deer Creek was the city's first mine. In 1850–51, it was the most important mining town in the state with Nevada County being the leading gold-mining county in the state. In 1851, the town of Nevada was incorporated on April 19, 1856. In 1864, the word “City” was added to the name to relieve confusion with the nearby state of Nevada, and the town has legally been known as “Nevada City” ever since.
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View Coin
| (K-71) Nevada City, California Trade Token (1900-1920) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1900-1920) K-71 DELBRIDGE'S CANDY FACTORY K-71 NEVADA CITY, CA.
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NGC TOKEN MS 62
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(K-71) circa 1900-1920 Nevada City, California Trade Token (DELBRIDGE'S CANDY FACTORY)
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| Marysville, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Gateway to the Gold Fields and Historic Marysville
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In 1842, John Sutter leased part of his Rancho New Helvetia land to Theodore Cordua, a native of Mecklenburg in Prussia, who in 1843 built a home and trading post he called New Mecklenburg. The trading post and home was situated at what would later become the southern end of 'D' Street, Marysville's main street. In 1844, the Mexican government granted Cordua his own land grant, Rancho Honcut. In 1848, Charles Covillaud, a former employee of Cordua, discovered riches in the gold fields and bought half of the Cordua ranch. During the Gold Rush, the ranch became a stopping point for the riverboats from Sacramento and San Francisco that brought prospectors to the digging grounds. Even today a sign on the roadside as one enters Marysville describes it as the "Gateway to The Gold Fields."
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View Coin
| (K-108) Marysville, California Trade Token (circa 1890) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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10C (C1890) GOOD FOR THE HUB K-108 MARYSVILLE, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN AU 50
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(K-108) Circa 1890 Marysville, California Trade Token (The Hub)
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| Sacramento, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Old Sacramento and Sutter's Fort, Sacramento, California
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The California Gold Rush started when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, one of John Sutter, Sr.'s assets in the city of Coloma in 1848. The arrival of prospectors in droves ruined Sutter's New Helvetia and trade began to develop around a wharf he had established where the American and Sacramento Rivers joined. In the region where Sutter had planned to establish the city of Sutterville, Sacramento City was founded;
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View Coin
| (K-259) Sacramento, California Trade Token (circa 1915) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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$1 (C1915) GOOD FOR GOLD NUGGET CAFE SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN AU 55
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(K-259) Circa 1915 Gold Nugget Cafe (Sacramento, California) Trade Token
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View Coin
| (K-355) Sacramento, California Trade Token (circa 1908) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1908) GOOD FOR LAFAYETTE SALOON SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN AU 58
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(K-355) circa 1908 Sacramento Trade Token (Lafayette Saloon)
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View Coin
| (K-707) Sacramento, California Trade Token (circa 1900-1920) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1900-1920) K-707 CRYSTAL PALACE BAR K-707 SACRAMENTO, CA.
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NGC TOKEN AU 50
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(K-707) Crystal Palace Bar Token, Sacramento, California (circa 1900-1920)
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View Coin
| (K-653) Sacramento, California Trade Token (circa 1908) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1908) GOOD FOR WILSON'S CRYSTAL PALACE SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN AU 53
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(K-653) Wilson's Crystal Palace Bar (Sacramento, California) circa 1908
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| Jackson, California |
United States California Gold Rush
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Jackson California signage and the Kennedy Mine
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Jackson (formerly, Botilleas, Botilleas Spring, Bottileas, Bottle Spring, and Botellas) was named after Colonel Alden Jackson and was founded in 1848 around a year-round spring. Settlement of the region by American pioneers was stimulated by the discovery of gold in the Sierra foothills around 1848. Although Amador County was an important mining center, its County seat of Jackson was not typical of the early gold camps. The camp grew quickly, as besides being a popular mining spot, it was also a convenient stopping place on the road from Sacramento to the Southern Mines. The camp became an important supply and transportation center for the neighboring towns, and by 1850 the population had reached an estimated 1,500. Jackson grew first as a watering hole for cattle, then as one of the earliest and most durable of the Mother Lode's hard rock mining areas. Placer mining gave out by the 1860s, replaced by hard rock mining. One of the town's most prominent historical landmarks, the Kennedy Mine, began operation in 1860; at the time of its closure during World War II in 1942, it was the deepest gold mine in North America, at 1802 meters; (5912 ft). On August 27, 1922 47 miners became trapped when a fire broke out in the Argonaut mine. All 47 men died in the fire but it wasn't until over a year later that the last body was recovered. The Argonaut mine incident was the worst gold mine disaster in US history.
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View Coin
| (K-26) Jackson, California Trade Token (circa 1905) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1905) GOOD FOR GENOVA SALOON K-26
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NCS Genuine
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(K-26) Jackson, California Trade Token (Genova Saloon) Circa 1905
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| Mokelumne Hill, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Mok Hill Historical Marker and IOOF Building
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Mokelumne Hill was one of the richest gold mining towns in California. Founded in 1848 by a group of Oregonians, the placers were so rich that the miners risked starvation rather than head to Stockton to replenish their supplies (one finally did and made it rich by becoming a merchant). Soon after, gold was discovered in the nearby hills, so much so that miners were restricted to claims of 16 square feet (1.5 m), and yet many of those claims were reported to have paid up to $20,000.
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View Coin
| (K-11) Mokelumne Hill, California Trade Mirror (circa 1905-1910) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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1DRINK (C1905-10) GOOD FOR THE CLUB SALOON K-11
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NGC GENUINE
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(K-11) 1905-1910 Mokelumne Hill (Mok Hill) Trade Mirror (The Club Saloon)
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View Coin
| (K-10) Mokelumne Hill, California Trade Mirror (circa 1900-1910) |
United States California Gold Rush
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1DRINK (C1900-10) GOOD FOR THE CLUB SALOON K-10 MOKELUMNE HILL, CA
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NGC GENUINE
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(K-10) Mokelumne Hill, California Trade Mirror (The Club Saloon) Circa 1900-1910
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| Stockton, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Stockton's Role in the Gold Rush and the Occidential Hotel
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Built during the California Gold Rush, Stockton's seaport serves as a gateway to the Central Valley and beyond. It provided easy access for trade and transportation to the southern gold mines. Europeans and Americans started to arrive in the area after gold was found in northern California, starting with the California Gold Rush in 1848. When Captain Charles Maria Weber, a German immigrant, decided to try his hand at gold mining in late 1848, he soon found selling supplies to gold-seekers was more profitable. Weber acquired the Rancho Campo de los Franceses Mexican land grant and founded Stockton in 1849. During the California Gold Rush, Stockton developed as a river port, the hub of roads to the gold settlements in the San Joaquin Valley and northern terminus of the Stockton - Los Angeles Road. During its early years, Stockton was known by several names, including "Weberville," "Tuleburg," "Fat City," "Mudville," and "California's Sunrise Seaport." Weber decided on "Stockton" in honor of Commodore Robert F. Stockton. Chinese immigration - Thousands of Chinese came to Stockton from the Kwangtung province of China during the 1850s due to a combination of political and economic unrest in China and the discovery of gold in California. After the gold rush, many worked for the railroads and land reclamation projects. By 1880, Stockton was home to the third-largest Chinese community in California.
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View Coin
| (K-220) Stockton, California Trade Token (Circa 1915) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1915) GOOD FOR MASONIC CLUB STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN MS 65
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(K-220) Stockton, California Masonic Club Token (circa 1915)
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| Sonora, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Historic Downtown Sonora and Historical Marker
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Founded by Mexican miners—reminiscent of the state of Sonora, Mexico—during the California Gold Rush, Sonora was once a booming center of industry and trade in California's Mother Lode. Most of the gold that was removable with traditional mining techniques was quickly extracted, leaving miners to use more complex and expensive mining techniques to reach deep pockets of quartz and gold. Sonora as well as other mining towns of the era experienced economic hardship when the value of gold decreased. As easier accessible gold deposits dried up, businesses and miners realized extracting the gold cost more than it was worth. As "gold fever" died down, Sonora's size and population steadily decreased over the years
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View Coin
| (K-17) Sonora, California Trade Token (circa 1908) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1908) GOOD FOR ELK SALOON K-17 SONORA, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN AU 50
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(K-17) Elk Saloon, Sonora, California (circa 1908)
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| Oakdale, California |
United States California
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Oakdale, California signage and Rodeo Parade
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Situated near the Stanislaus River, Oakdale, so named for the groves of oak trees that line the hills, boasts an impressive history. In 1848, gold was discovered along the Stanislaus River by the Indians living in the area. The stampede to mine the gold sent representatives of the Stockton and Visalia Railroad to the location that is now Oakdale. After purchasing land they were able to extend the railroad from Stockton to the gateway of the mines.
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View Coin
| (K-1) Oakdale, California Trade Token (circa 1915) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1915) GOOD FOR D. BACIGALUPI K-1 OAKDALE, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN MS 64
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(K-1) Oakdale, California Trade Token (D. Bacigalupi), Circa 1915
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View Coin
| (K-18) Oakdale, California Trade Token (Circa 1915) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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25C (C1915) GOOD FOR IRA M. DE LONG K-18 OAKDALE, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN MS 61
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(K-18) Oakdale, California Trade Token (Ira M. De Long), Circa 1915
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| Jamestown, California |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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Jamestown, California Old Jail and Historical Marker
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Jamestown is in Tuolumne County, California. Formerly a California Gold Rush town, Jamestown is now a California Historical Landmark. Jamestown is the home of Railtown 1897 State Historic Park and the Sierra Railway, which operates steam passenger trains. A scene from the movie Hidalgo was filmed in Jamestown. Exterior scenes from the TV series Petticoat Junction, The Wild Wild West, and Green Acres were filmed in and near Jamestown, as well as parts of Little House on the Prairie TV series.
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View Coin
| (K-16) Jamestown, California Trade Token (circa 1900-20) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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DRINK (C1900-1920) F-6 ROCCO SALOON JAMESTOWN, CA.
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NGC MS 63
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(K-16) circa 1900-20 Trade Token (Rocco Saloon), Jamestown, California
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| San Francisco, California |
United States California Gold Rush
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San Francisco - Gateway to the Goldfields
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San Francisco, gateway to the California goldfields for the Forty Niners who came by sea
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View Coin
| (K-829) San Francisco, California Trade Token (circa 1908) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1908) GOOD FOR CHAS. FEY & SON K-829 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN MS 62
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(K-829) Chas. Fey and Son Trade Token, San Francisco, California (circa 1908)
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View Coin
| San Francisco Trade Token (circa 1854-1860) |
United States California Gold Rush
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Bronze CA (1854-60) SAN FRAN M-CALIF-6 JOSEPH BROTHERS Miller-CALIF-6
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NGC TOKEN XF 40 BN
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(1854-60) Advertising Medal for the Joseph Brothers (San Francisco) - Nathan Joseph made some of the first (dated) Arms of California gold tokens
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View Coin
| (K-836) San Francisco Trade Token (circa 1912) |
United States California Post-Gold Rush
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5C (C1912) GOOD FOR FIOR D'ITALIA SALOON SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
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NGC TOKEN AU 58
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(K-836) circa 1912 San Francisco Trade Token (Fior D'Italia Saloon)
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| Reference Materials |
United States
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Charles V. Kappen "California Tokens" (1976) and "California Tokens Supplement" (1997)
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Charles V. Kappen 1976 California Tokens and 1997 California Tokens Supplement
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| Reference Materials |
United States
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Fred N. Holabird's Collecting Guide to the Pioneer Minor Coinage of American Saloons
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Fred N. Holabird's Collecting Guide to the Pioneer Minor Coinage of American Saloons
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