California Fractional Gold is a Heritage Auctions staple. Collectors Dashboard has profiled unique type coins in the past. The California Fractional Gold US Coins Showcase Auction on January 17, 2022 brought new coins for collectors to bid on. The California Gold Rush may have taken place before the American Civil War, however it fills a niche for coin collectors for several reasons.

Gold will always be collectible and a small population of examples are something to be pursued. American fractional gold continued beyond the California gold rush and high grade examples from the 1870s number in the single digits.

Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end collectibles as an alternative asset class. This means collectibles are attracting the same capital that could have been invested into stocks or bonds. Many collectibles now cost thousands of dollars (or much more). Collectors with a passion to own a collectible for years frequently have to compete directly against investors whose only desire is to make a profit in the future. Just remember, there is no such thing as a guaranteed profit in any asset class.

Several sales from the January 17, 2022 Heritage Auction (Image also by Heritage Auctions) are worth noting:

• 1876 50C Indian Octagonal 50 Cents MS67 Deep Proof-like NGC sold for $2,220.00 after 15b bids.
• 1878/6 50C Indian Octagonal 50 Cents MS66 Deep Proof-like NGC sold for $2,760.00 after 29 bids. One-of-one population in MS66 grade.
• 1878/6 50C Indian Octagonal 50 Cents MS67 Deep Proof-like NGC sold for $3,360.00 after 15 bids.
• 1876/5 $1 Indian Octagonal Dollar MS64 Deep Mirror Proof-like NGC sold for $2,880.00 after 24 bids.

Other gold coins sold in this auction represent a departure in caliber from these four examples. Concerning California fractional gold, these are trophy coins both because of low populations but also because of eye appeal.

According to Heritage Auctions most California Fractional gold coins usually value in the $100.00 to $500.00 range. Some of the most famous California Fractional gold has been sold by Heritage Auctions in previous auctions. The Arms of California is a type of fractional gold coin with less than 70 pieces known to exist today. Here are some recent sales through Heritage Auctions (Image below via Heritage Auctions):

• 1853 50C Arms of California 50 Cents MS64 PCGS was sold by Heritage Auctions on August 16, 2019 for $12,625.20 after 13 bids.
• 1853 50C Arms of California 50 Cents MS64 PCGS was sold by Heritage Auctions on October 17, 2019 for $10,200.00 after 12 bids.
• 1853 50C Arms of California 50 Cents MS63 PCGS was sold by Heritage Auctions on August 20, 2021 for $10,200.00 after 10 bids.

California Fractional Gold sold in 2022 represents a new chapter in collecting for the type coin. Gold will always have a tone to any collector. California Gold is not determined by the changing views on the state it comes from but instead transcends understandings of collectibility. On one hand the gold coin is collectible to collectors interested in the old west era. On the other hand it is an immaculate polished coin many generations removed.