1722 Rosa American!!!

[Garabaldi]

I figured it was a King George 1st 2nd or 3rd, but the corrosion and pitting through me off, so I thought maybe its a counterfeit. Then I saw the rose on the back and looked it up and its a William Wood Rosa America token, that were rejected by the colonies. I have never found one before. The reason its in such poor condition is that it is made of 24.7% zink. the rest is 75%copper and .3% silver. I am just super excited I found this coin. I also found a great Waltham watch factory pocket watch. Unfortunately I washed the face with water and rubbed off the black hand painted numbers, but you live and learn. I am assuming its gold plated. Also found 6 Winthrop Beach Casino umbrella tags. Casino's have been illegal in mass for years, so I have to figure out whats the deal with these.
The other interesting bronze piece looks like it would have went on the end of something.

 

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[Garabaldi]

Why I can't I ever find things like this?

ty Jeff.

 

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[steelheadwill]

Way to go on the Rosa! Besides the crappy alloy that was used they were supposedly also struck on a hot planchet. That caused minute gas bubbles to eventually rise to the surface and give all dug Rosa Americanas that pimpley look. I've been fortunate to dig 2 and tey look similar to yours. A great find for sure !

Interesting Jeff, sounds like you are familiar with Dr Mossmans work.
What denominations were the ones you found??

 

[steelheadwill]

Why I can't I ever find things like this?

If you are doing your research and putting in digging time YOU WILL. Keep the faith

 

[Silver Searcher]

Great find G good clear pictures two, at 75% copper you would have thought it would fair a bit better, than it has...cool find tough

SS

 

[Iron Patch]

Good one. It's hard for me to believe, but it's been over 10 years since I dug mine, and to this day we have called the site the Rosa Hill. What a great site it was, just tons of relics and coins came out of there. The day I found it I figured just another large British copper, so was pleasantly surprised when I realized what it was.

1722 Twopence.

 

[hamiddetecting]

Wow

Nice

 

[Garabaldi]

Great find G good clear pictures two, at 75% copper you would have thought it would fair a bit better, than it has...cool find tough

SS

Thank you SS,
I was shocked to find it, only other colonial find at this site was a KG II half penny.

 

[Garabaldi]

Good one. It's hard for me to believe, but it's been over 10 years since I dug mine, and to this day we have called the site the Rosa Hill. What a great site it was, just tons of relics and coins came out of there. The day I found it I figured just another large British copper, so was pleasantly surprised when I realized what it was.

1722 Twopence.

that two pence is awesome Iron Patch. Did you keep it in that condition or try and restore it at all?

 

[Don in SJ]

Have not gone thru the archives here on TNet, but I know a Rosa find in any kind of condition is not found too often, they just did not circulate here, probably due to the light weight compared to the KGI and KGII coppers that were circulating in the same era....
I found mine in a freshly plowed forest fire ditch along with a nice knee buckle. Mine is a Penny.

It is Syd Martin of C4 who is collecting data on Rosa Americana coppers.

 

[Iron Patch]

that two pence is awesome Iron Patch. Did you keep it in that condition or try and restore it at all?

It's as I dug it. It came out surprisingly clean, so in my case the mixture of metals was probably a positive thing.

 

[Garabaldi]

Have not gone thru the archives here on TNet, but I know a Rosa find in any kind of condition is not found too often, they just did not circulate here, probably due to the light weight compared to the KGI and KGII coppers that were circulating in the same era....
I found mine in a freshly plowed forest fire ditch along with a nice knee buckle. Mine is a Penny.

It is Syd Martin of C4 who is collecting data on Rosa Americana coppers.

Don, the coin you poster here is that the one you found? If so its in great shape.

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[Jeff H]

Interesting Jeff, sounds like you are familiar with Dr Mossmans work.
What denominations were the ones you found??

Steelheadwill, it could have very well been Dr. Mossman, I forget. There were a few good articles on the origins of the Rosa's. I found the penny first and the twopence about a year later. Different sites.

Garabaldi, you can see that yours is really not in bad shape. None of them are really in good shape!

 

[CASPER-2]

I saw a 2 pence like mine found on a big hunt in SC - was in the same shape as mine from Ma (see above)
this is how mine came out after electrolysis

 

[steelheadwill]

Good one. It's hard for me to believe, but it's been over 10 years since I dug mine, and to this day we have called the site the Rosa Hill. What a great site it was, just tons of relics and coins came out of there. The day I found it I figured just another large British copper, so was pleasantly surprised when I realized what it was.

1722 Twopence.

nice one IP, little different than a cartwheel tuppence

 

[steelheadwill]

Casper, your recovery is in fantastic condition!
Jeff, Dr Mossman is from U Notre Dame,
the University has one of the most comprehensive websites
concerning Colonial currency that I am aware of.
I linked the Woods pages above, here's the homepage: COLONIAL COINS (Table of Contents)

 

[steelheadwill]

Have not gone thru the archives here on TNet, but I know a Rosa find in any kind of condition is not found too often, they just did not circulate here, probably due to the light weight compared to the KGI and KGII coppers that were circulating in the same era....
I found mine in a freshly plowed forest fire ditch along with a nice knee buckle. Mine is a Penny.

It is Syd Martin of C4 who is collecting data on Rosa Americana coppers.

Don, My coins images are being examined by Dr Martin.
It appears to be a mule, in it's condition it should be near full weight,4-5 grams, but is actually just 3 grams.
The die pairing is not found anywhere I've looked, Obverse has 'U' in Georgius, Reverse Uses 'V's..
'GEORGIUS DEI GRATIA REX'
'VTILE DVLCI 1722 ROSA AMERI', no banner, no crown...
Nice finds Everyone! Congrats again G

 

[Don in SJ]

Don, My coins images are being examined by Dr Martin.
It appears to be a mule, in it's condition it should be near full weight,4-5 grams, but is actually just 3 grams.
The die pairing is not found anywhere I've looked, Obverse has 'U' in Georgius, Reverse Uses 'V's..
'GEORGIUS DEI GRATIA REX'
'VTILE DVLCI 1722 ROSA AMERI', no banner, no crown...
Nice finds Everyone! Congrats again G

Syd Martin is the expert on Rosa's and I know he has said the Rosa's are very diversified and lots to learn about them yet. Glad you contacted him. The Rosa in my earlier post is the one I found, just washed the dirt off of it, needed nothing else.

 

[steelheadwill]

Don that is a nice example for sure I have some clinging dirt that won't rinse off,
and I don't want to try anything harsher.
Surely the Rosas' story is one of the most interesting of the Colonial issues.
thanks Don & Best wishes, Herbie.
I found the quote below, thought they were first sent to Ireland along with the Woods Hibernias

"The reverse depicted a rose surrounded by: ROSA AMERICANA and UTILE DULCI,
translating to "the American rose" and "the useful with the sweet."
The intention was to prepare a coinage which would be distinctly American,
in contrast with the British coins in circulation in the American colonies at the time."

 

[diggy]

sweet

 

[RedCardHack]

Cool Finds!! WTG