This is a privately struck gold token valued at $20 from the Californian gold rush. This example was struck by Wass, Molitor & Co. This coin was deposited with the Melbourne Mint and is thought to have been brought to Australia by an American gold seeker.

Private gold $20 piece California, obverse.

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Private gold $20 piece California, reverse.

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Obverse – Head of Liberty facing left with the initials of the producing company W.M. &c. on her coronet. Liberty is surrounded by 13 stars representing the original US colonies and the date 1855 below.		Reverse – At the centre is an eagle with spread wings and the arms of the USA on a shield. The eagle clasps in its talons a wreath of olive and three arrows, representing peace and war. Above is a plaque inscribed 900 THOUS which denotes the purity of the gold as 900 parts per 1000 (90 percent pure). Around the rim is the legend SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA and the denomination TWENTY DOL.

Transferred from Melbourne Mint, 1978