Woodland Detectors
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1781. This is what it reads. I'm thinking a colonial copper? I don't know I've never found one! lol I'm looking for the history on it... ~ Any one? Thanks!
Coin Help needed( Irish Halfpenny)
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Moe (fl)
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Re: Coin Help needed
Looks like you have an Irish Halfpenny copper coin.
1781 George III
Obverse: GEORGIVS . III . REX .
Reverse: HIBERNIA . 1781
Weight: 140.3 g Diameter: 27.8 mm
Regal Irish coppers were produced in 1774-1776 and 1781-1782.
Looks like you have an Irish Halfpenny copper coin.
1781 George III
Obverse: GEORGIVS . III . REX .
Reverse: HIBERNIA . 1781
Weight: 140.3 g Diameter: 27.8 mm
Regal Irish coppers were produced in 1774-1776 and 1781-1782.
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trikikiwi
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Re: Coin Help needed
What a nice find Mike
Will you tell us the details of how you found it? please
By the way, the Harp has long been a symbol of Ireland. Interesting info;
The harp has been recognised as a symbol of Ireland since the 13th century[1] and was used on Irish coinage by kings John and Edward I. Visual heraldry within Ireland started in 1392 on the creation of the first Ireland King of Arms. The harp was adopted as the symbol of the new Kingdom of Ireland established by Henry I of Ireland in 1541-42. It has appeared in the third quarter of the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom since the union of the crowns of Ireland and England to that of Scotland by James VI of Scotland in March 1603.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Ireland
Mike
What a nice find Mike
Will you tell us the details of how you found it? please
By the way, the Harp has long been a symbol of Ireland. Interesting info;
The harp has been recognised as a symbol of Ireland since the 13th century[1] and was used on Irish coinage by kings John and Edward I. Visual heraldry within Ireland started in 1392 on the creation of the first Ireland King of Arms. The harp was adopted as the symbol of the new Kingdom of Ireland established by Henry I of Ireland in 1541-42. It has appeared in the third quarter of the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom since the union of the crowns of Ireland and England to that of Scotland by James VI of Scotland in March 1603.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Ireland
Mike
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OP
OP
Woodland Detectors
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Re: Coin Help needed
Old Fort . Near that farm I took you to~~~~~
Here is some interesting info~~~~In 1766, six year after coming to the English throne, George III produced an issue of copper halfpennies for Ireland (illustrated). These coins are similar in design to those of George II. The farthing denomination was not struck. The issue was continued in 1769 and second issue the same year with some modifications to the bust of the monarch was also produced. The design was modified again in 1774 and coins were issued dated 1774, 1775, 1776, 1781 and finally in 1782.
A number of proofs exist of these coins the commonest of which are of the 1775 (illustrated) and 1782 dates.
The size of the issue of these halfpennies was not sufficiently large to provide change for the Irish economy and during the letter years of the issue and subsequently a large number of contemporary copies were made in Ireland.
The standard of workmanship in the contemporary forgeries varies greatly; some specimens being as well made as the official Royal Mint pieces and others being very poorly executed and obviously much lighter and thinner.
The act of forging regal coinage carried a severe penalty so the forgeries began to carry a number of legends other than the regal one. Some spurious legends are biblical and others are simply jumbled letters. The reverse legend HIBERNIA is similarly altered on some specimens.
A number of these forgeries made their way to America and they are included in the colonial series. As is the way with such things the Irish forged coppers with US attributable legends such as 'George President' or 'George Washington' (instead of 'Georguis III Rex') are much more sought after than the coins with Irish or English references in their legends despite being no more scarce.
By the end of the 1780's the need for small change became desperate both in Ireland and England as King George III had become mad and was unable to sign any coinage acts. The regal prerogative over the right to mint coin having been carefully guarded by the monarchy while other trappings of power devolved to Parliament. This resulted in an extensive series of copper tokens being issued in this period and up until about 1804 though the later pieces are often dated before 1794 to avoid the more severe penalties to restrict tokens introduced in that year. The tokens of this period will be covered in: Irish Tokens (1200 to 1858)
Old Fort . Near that farm I took you to~~~~~
Here is some interesting info~~~~In 1766, six year after coming to the English throne, George III produced an issue of copper halfpennies for Ireland (illustrated). These coins are similar in design to those of George II. The farthing denomination was not struck. The issue was continued in 1769 and second issue the same year with some modifications to the bust of the monarch was also produced. The design was modified again in 1774 and coins were issued dated 1774, 1775, 1776, 1781 and finally in 1782.
A number of proofs exist of these coins the commonest of which are of the 1775 (illustrated) and 1782 dates.
The size of the issue of these halfpennies was not sufficiently large to provide change for the Irish economy and during the letter years of the issue and subsequently a large number of contemporary copies were made in Ireland.
The standard of workmanship in the contemporary forgeries varies greatly; some specimens being as well made as the official Royal Mint pieces and others being very poorly executed and obviously much lighter and thinner.
The act of forging regal coinage carried a severe penalty so the forgeries began to carry a number of legends other than the regal one. Some spurious legends are biblical and others are simply jumbled letters. The reverse legend HIBERNIA is similarly altered on some specimens.
A number of these forgeries made their way to America and they are included in the colonial series. As is the way with such things the Irish forged coppers with US attributable legends such as 'George President' or 'George Washington' (instead of 'Georguis III Rex') are much more sought after than the coins with Irish or English references in their legends despite being no more scarce.
By the end of the 1780's the need for small change became desperate both in Ireland and England as King George III had become mad and was unable to sign any coinage acts. The regal prerogative over the right to mint coin having been carefully guarded by the monarchy while other trappings of power devolved to Parliament. This resulted in an extensive series of copper tokens being issued in this period and up until about 1804 though the later pieces are often dated before 1794 to avoid the more severe penalties to restrict tokens introduced in that year. The tokens of this period will be covered in: Irish Tokens (1200 to 1858)
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Don in SJ
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1781 appears to be the year most counterfeited that are found by detectorists. Your copper does look like one for sure, weight of the coin would be the all tell factor though. With wear the coin still should weigh at least 130+ grains, roughly 9 grams, if countefeit most likely closer to 100 grains. I have three Irish KGIII counterfeits, weights are 93.2, 93.5 and 105.2 grains, all well below the 140+ for a regal.
One of my most beautiful KGIII Irish Halfpenny I have found is a 1781, the counterfeiter evidently for making mine did not have a letter O punch and used a G and then added the rest of the loop to make it an O.
http://www.irishcoinage.com/MILLED.HTM
Don
One of my most beautiful KGIII Irish Halfpenny I have found is a 1781, the counterfeiter evidently for making mine did not have a letter O punch and used a G and then added the rest of the loop to make it an O.
http://www.irishcoinage.com/MILLED.HTM
Don
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OP
OP
Woodland Detectors
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mine weighs 85 grains. soo, Couterfeit?
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OP
OP
Woodland Detectors
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awesome! In case you all missed it, counterfeits are more collectible. check solved!
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Iron Patch
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Very Nice. One of my favorite coppers is a Hibernia. (1773)
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