1806/7 King George III Halfpenny - A Truly Bizarre Find for Western Kentucky!

[KYshooter]

Today I returned to the old hotel site where I have found some of my most incredible finds, namely my 1805 Draped Bust Dime and a 1/3 ounce 18k gold band from the 1880′s. I’ve found several other silvers there, and lots of Indian Head pennies … but never any large coppers.

Anyhow … it’s been over a year since I hunted the site. I took my hunting buddy Whiskey Delta to the location for the first time. We had been there every bit of ten minutes when my new E-Trac howled at a coin target. I was shocked (I mean, genuinely shocked) to flip over my plug and at two inches find this …

1806/7 King George III Halfpenny Reverse

1806/7 King George III Halfpenny Obverse (No Detail)

I had to make the identification based upon the reverse only. As you can see, there is no detail on the obverse, except for the “D” and “G” at the 2:00 position … right were you would expect them.

It appears that someone took a punch to the face of King George … go figure.

But they still kept the halfpenny to spend.

I found this coin about 40 feet from the exact spot where I dug the 1805 Draped Bust Dime. Both from exactly the same period! Clearly, this was from a VERY early homestead on this spot. The land was only settled around 1795-1800. This would have been the real “frontier” of America around 1810.

I know some of you New England guys won’t be very impressed at all, but this is a HUGE find for my little part of the world … an ultra rarity.

Thanks for looking! HH

 

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[bill from lachine]

Neat find....looks like someone might have converted it into a button of sorts.

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[KYshooter]

Neat find....looks like someone might have converted it into a button of sorts.

Regards + HH

Bill

Yep, I think it was a button for sure. Someone hammered and flattened out the obverse. I'm just not sure if the shank was added to the hump on the reverse or if it was imbedded and attached into the punch on the obverse.

But whatever it was used for, it is a truly incredible find for this part of the country. I wonder if any more have been found here in Kentucky ...

 

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

awesome congrats! but how can you see any date? your eyes are better than mine.I'm dying to dig a draped bust silver.one of these days! ya got a great spot!

 

[Iron Patch]

Yep, I think it was a button for sure. Someone hammered and flattened out the obverse. I'm just not sure if the shank was added to the hump on the reverse or if it was imbedded and attached into the punch on the obverse.

But whatever it was used for, it is a truly incredible find for this part of the country. I wonder if any more have been found here in Kentucky ...

The obverse was/is the back.

 

[Erik in NJ]

Funny, I found a KG last year up in Cape Cod that also looked like someone took a punch to the obverse (I thought maybe someone shot the coin). I'll have to see if I can dig it out and post a pic. The KGs we dig here, though old, are pretty much without any value, but one like this really tells a story Congrats!

 

[KYshooter]

awesome congrats! but how can you see any date? your eyes are better than mine.I'm dying to dig a draped bust silver.one of these days! ya got a great spot!

I can't see one ... but, according to everything I've researched, this variety of George III's were minted in 1806 & 1807.

Or did I get that wrong??

 

[fishstick]

That is a SUPER SWEET find for our neck of the woods!! That etrac sure is workin for u.. Keep it up.. CONGRATS. HH

 

[Iron Patch]

I can't see one ... but, according to everything I've researched, this variety of George III's were minted in 1806 & 1807.

Or did I get that wrong??

You have it right. Just those two years.

 

[bobcat]

great find

 

[KYshooter]

You NE guys have it so good! Seriously, this kind of find is waaaaaay out of character for our part of the country. 1800-1820, this was a frontier. Very little and sparse settlements. I'm pretty convinced that I have pulled two of the oldest coins ever dug in this county right here from this single spot.

I'm not all that worried about value, just the antiquity and uniqueness of the find for my area.

 

[Gunrunner61]

Congrats on a cool find!...........HH

 

[KYshooter]

Where are you located in Indiana??

 

[dhearn]

CoinsGB - George III This web site is the best I have found for Identifieing British coins

 

[KYshooter]

CoinsGB - George III This web site is the best I have found for Identifieing British coins

Thanks for the link! I bookmarked it for future reference. It really helps ... in light of my complete ignorance regarding British coinage.

 

[fishstick]

Less than a hour north of Louisville. Where u near bud?

 

[KYshooter]

Less than a hour north of Louisville. Where u near bud?

Down near Ft. Campbell, Lake Barkley ... south of I-24. About 4 hours from you.

 

[fishstick]

If ur ever up this way gimme a shout shooter.. HH

 

[KYshooter]

If ur ever up this way gimme a shout shooter.. HH

You holla first. I do road trips to get to do some good detecting.

 

[fishstick]

10-4 When they get the fields lookin good ill give u a shout.. I wood luv to c a etrac on sum of my places to no if its all that. HH