I have found in a jar of coins, some not as old as this one, a 1854 Kellogg & Co Tewnty D coin. It has some wear on the face (the Eye and hair detail is not there), the back side is very bold, no wear but there is an area where it looks like the coin was melted, sanded or ground a bit. In that area it is also gold in color. There are a few scratches around the edges that are also gold in color. How can I test if it is authentic. How can I test the Gold to see if it is real. If it is real what could the value be? If it is a copy what could the value be? Another note: the name Kellog & Co. in her tiara is a bit smaller and lower than some images I found online.
Why would it be a coin? Seems like it's a token and I doubt it is gold. Maybe gold plated at one stage and it's worn off. Please do post pictures if possible.
Welcome to the forum GregoryK. Please post a picture. To me, it sounds like a cast copy made from a base metal and then painted/ plated. The picture from my Red Book has it looking like a regular $20 gold piece. Note, that many counterfeit/ copied coins from this time have been made. If it is real it could be worth in the range of $2000-5000. A fake would be worth about $20-30 depending on when it was made and its quality. Because you found it in a casual jar of coins, to me, makes me believe that it is a counterfeit.
One easy nondestructive test to see if possible or not is to weigh the coin. A 1854 Twenty D. Kellogg should weigh between 33.3 and 33.42 grams. Don't use any gold testing solutions or methods, as many fakes and such were made of gold, as the value of the gold was no where near the value of the coin,fakes often did not use .900 gold, but 14K-18K gold (.58-.75), so the weight would differ. Testing solutions may damage the surfaces. If the weight is correct, then you may want to send it to a certifying company. Sounds like an exciting time for you, but don't be too hopeful as the chances are against it being real, but it is probably as good as the lottery
These coins are exceptionally rare when authentic and they have been the product of almost constant reproductions over the years as a trinket sold to tourists in Colorado so it is a near certainty that yours is one of the reproductions. It is worth less than $5 if it is a tourist trinket. If it is very well done (which your description seems to rule out) then it is possible it was made to fool collectors and may contain some gold which would give it some additional value.
here is the best picture I could take I tried to buff it up some with a pad from a dremel tool. As I said the gouge in the back is gold in color also. It has either been in circulation or in someone pocket for it to have wear and also nicks. Along the edge of the coin/token should there be ridges like on a dime or quarter? This does not have any but I do see very fine lines that are hardly visible.
Please please dont take that dremel anywhere near a coin again Please dont try cleaning it with anything, please leave as is. I dont know if it is real or not but cleaning it could loose you a lot of $$ De Orc :smile Ps welcome to the forum :hail:
1854 kellogg & Co If a coin is cleaned, couldnt it begin to look aged again after handling it? I didnt use the actual dremel on the coil, but a buffing pad, and I used it by hand.
"Along the edge of the coin/token should there be ridges like on a dime or quarter? This does not have any but I do see very fine lines that are hardly visible." Yes the original issue was reeded ( ridges on edge) and with the details on the surface of the coin, the reeds should be more prominent than fine lines. The main thing that indicates to me it is not a "real" one is the location and size of the "liberty" legend on the tiara. Larger and Lower than is illustrated in reference books ( Breen's and catalogs). IMHO a fake also.
well, it's a good thing it is fake. If it had been real you would have turned a $5000 coin into a $2000 coin with your buffing. The hairlines that are now obvious in the fields are a detracting factor to collectors and they cannot be removed without serious wear (which would decrease the value even more than the cleaning. Like I said, though, it is good that you learned this on a fake coin.
I hope it is fake, since if it is real you will never forgive yourself for the loss of value caused by the cleaning. Looks like a decent fake - could bring a couple dollars on ebay - not sure about these but good fakes made in the era of the original can sell for 10-20$. If it contains gold (which it probably does not) it woul dbe worth a lot more.
My family has a 1854 Kelogg $20, but I am not sure which Kagin it is. It is in mint condition, and my mother won't touch it because she doesn't want to get fingerprints on it. I would love to find out more about it, including its value of course. I would insert my pictures, but I don't know how.
Howdy DrkAngl001 The piece you have is a rare coin <token> but it offen faked---to better tell you about it or even guess a value you would need to post photo and get the weight of the coin. To find out to post photos read this thread. http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=8565 As for the weight---if you don't have something that will work take it to a jewelry shop and ask them to weight it.....make sure you hold the coin by the edge and you won't get fingerprints---you really need a flip for it so it doesn't get fingerprints---if there is a coin dealer in your town take it there---he would be able to weigh it and maybe also tell you if its real or not---some dealers don't know alot about this type of coin so you might not take everything he says a fact. The chance that your's is real is slim....but possible. Speedy
