Owner Comments:
U.S.S. CALIFORNIA LAUNCHING 1904, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Medal issued by Native Sons of the Golden West to commemorate event in San Francisco Harbor, April 28, 1904.
AN NGC GRADED "AU DETAILS MOUNT REMOVED" EXAMPLE WAS SOLD BY HERITAGE AUCTIONS FOR $144.00.
NGC HAS ONLY GIVEN (2) EXAMPLES OF THIS TYPE OF SO-CALLED DOLLAR A NUMBER GRADE, THE TOP POP IS AU 55 PER THE NGC CENSUS AS OF 8/2023. THIS MEDAL WAS GRADED BY NGC AS AU 55 WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS UNDERGRADED, SO I CRACKED IT OUT AND RE-SUBMITTED IT. NGC SENT IT BACK AS "AU DETAILS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE".
ALL OF THESE ORIGINALLY HAD A HANGER ATTACHED AND MOST ARE "DETAILS" GRADED BECAUSE THE HANGER HAS BEEN REMOVED. THIS ONE DID NOT DENOTE THE HANGER BEING REMOVED BY NGC WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY GRADED. I HONESTLY DO NOT SEE SIGNS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE TO THIS MEDAL. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DARK SPOTS, BUT I DO NOT CONSIDER THIS "ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE", THIS IS JUST DARK TONING TO A COPPER MEDAL IN MY OPINION.