ARRRGGH! Need coin ID and I don't think it's going to be easy!

smokeythecat

smokeythecat

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Nov 22, 2012
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XP Deus II
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I took pics of this coin and turned it 45 degrees to get four pics of one side and four of another. It was found on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay today in Maryland, the Deus II pulled it from 11"! The house was built ca 1690. We found very little else-except modern trash. NOW...this puppy is about 19 mm. It is very thin and weighs 1.6 grams. It is made of copper. Both sides have some de-lamination. There APPEARS to be some lettering around most of the edge. Ideas? I have found coins from as early as 1450 nearby. And no, it's not pretty.

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I posted it a couple years ago. Found a 6th century coin in SC years ago, an 18th century plantation owner was apparently a coin collector and the house burned. My digging buddies found Roman coins there. About 5 years or so ago I found a Roman coin in NJ. A byproduct of the WWII ships coming back with ballast from North Africa and Italy.
 

smokeythecat said:
I posted it a couple years ago. Found a 6th century coin in SC years ago, an 18th century plantation owner was apparently a coin collector and the house burned. My digging buddies found Roman coins there. About 5 years or so ago I found a Roman coin in NJ. A byproduct of the WWII ships coming back with ballast from North Africa and Italy.
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Wonder if the 1450 coin was part of a collection too or if it was actually in circulation. Was it silver?
 

Yes, looks like a dog chew toy, which is typical for me and it is silver. Had to have a coin dealer specializing in those things ID it. It's almost impossible to make out anything on it. The pics are buried on the site here I think it was in 2018. That was on the OLD computer...don't know where the pics are now.
 

WELL...puts foot in mouth here was wrong. I have an ID on the coin. I will try to find out EXACTLY which one it is, but it is a British farthing, the ones made between 1613 and 1640. These were struck for the British government by private minters. In 1640 the government put a stop to it. Some were still made until 1660, but in the immortal words of Porky Pig, that's all folks! The farthings made in the 18th century were much larger. These thin, poorly made coins like the one I got were not popular with the public, and small and easily lost. Examples have been found at Jamestown, VA and in Isle of Wight County, VA. Bill Dancy gives a great description in his book - but the copy I have stated he has never found one personally.

So...As far as I'm concerned, due to the scarcity of these in early colonial America, I consider the XP Deus II fully paid for...yeah...not in money....but...in history!
 

smokeythecat said:
I took pics of this coin and turned it 45 degrees to get four pics of one side and four of another. It was found on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay today in Maryland, the Deus II pulled it from 11"! The house was built ca 1690. We found very little else-except modern trash. NOW...this puppy is about 19 mm. It is very thin and weighs 1.6 grams. It is made of copper. Both sides have some de-lamination. There APPEARS to be some lettering around most of the edge. Ideas? I have found coins from as early as 1450 nearby. And no, it's not pretty.

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1850 is a stretch here, wtg!!
 

smokeythecat said:
WELL...puts foot in mouth here was wrong. I have an ID on the coin. I will try to find out EXACTLY which one it is, but it is a British farthing, the ones made between 1613 and 1640. These were struck for the British government by private minters. In 1640 the government put a stop to it. Some were still made until 1660, but in the immortal words of Porky Pig, that's all folks! The farthings made in the 18th century were much larger. These thin, poorly made coins like the one I got were not popular with the public, and small and easily lost. Examples have been found at Jamestown, VA and in Isle of Wight County, VA. Bill Dancy gives a great description in his book - but the copy I have stated he has never found one personally.

So...As far as I'm concerned, due to the scarcity of these in early colonial America, I consider the XP Deus II fully paid for...yeah...not in money....but...in history!
Click to expand...
Congratulations on your coin from early colonial Amenia Voting Banner
 

It may just be my eyes playing tricks on me at 5:30 in the AM, but I'm fairly certain I can see Britannia facing left. So I was thinking this might be a George II Halfpenny, except a Geo. II Halfpenny is 30mm, so... no. :laughing7:

Best of luck getting your coin identified,
Dave
 

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No, this baby is TINY! There were a few I could look at online. I hope to see the coin guy today. He may know which one it is and give me clues to getting more crud off it. Four hundred year old coins on salt water lawn still has some detail. Amazing. It was 6' from being IN the Chesapeake Bay.
 

I don't think I ever took that test...and I bought a book on 17th century British tokens. Now I can make out some details after using some Andre's pencils a little. We'll see. This is not going to be an easy one.
 

Maybe a British Farthing? :icon_scratch:

British Farthings
Coins with dates between 1672 and 1724 bear portraits of the various British monarchs, but all have BRITANNIA on the reverse side. Some farthings were made of tin and silver, and some copper coins, pennies and half pennies, have similar designs but are larger than a farthing. Farthings generally run 20 - 22 mm in diameter. As a further complication, 1/3 and 1/2 farthings were also issued with similar patterns.


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After starting at it several days, due to the delamination, I think it can just be put down to a 17th century farthing/token, and call it a day. The very early coins we find here are generally toast.
 

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