Colonial England "anchor coin" & secret society jewel..?

[Bodkin]

Went out yesterday before work to a place I've hit before here in Downeast Maine. The tide was heading out so I was able to detect areas I couldn't reach before. Lots of activity in the past in this area and there was timbers in the water showing where docks had once been. There was also a freshwater stream coming off of a hill right to this spot. Perfect area for shipping! Tons of old broken bottles and pottery, iron and other "things".
Here's what I stuffed in my bag and still haven't cleaned. Nothing really sticks out so I didn't post it separately.
Found this 1822 Colonial English anchor coin (at least that's what I determined after researching it a bit). Please share any info you have on this one. It's not in the greatest shape but I read these are pretty rare if that's true.
Found this "jewel" (at least that's what I determine it to be going on similar Masonic type items). I tried researching "Amaranth" and "Daughters of the Nile" but came up empty handed. If anyone knows, please ID it. I actually found this by sight. The chain was draped over a rock in the freshwater stream. When the tide was in it would have been underwater. Probably why it was never found. Anyway, I started pulling and it just kept on coming. Never thought I would THAT here! Nothing around for it to be here. Strange!
Other side.
All found with Nox 800, beach 2 setting, stock coil.
Thanks for looking and any info you can lend!

 

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[Digger RJ]

Very Nice!!! Congrats!!! Cool!!!

 

[Red-Coat]

Cool finds.

The coin is as you say. The British government coined 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16 fractional 'Anchor dollars' for use in Mauritius and the British West Indies (excluding Jamaica) at this time. The VIII each side of the anchor indicates it to be 1/8 of a dollar.

The supply of Spanish dollars had been largely cut off as a result of Latin American revolutions and these coins were intended to fill the gap… especially for trading purposes. The absolute silver content was matched to the Spanish dollar via a combination of fineness and weight, so the 1/8th of a dollar was 3.3g of .892 silver.

‘Rare’ is a relative term. Some 142,000 were produced for 1822 and there’s one on eBay at the moment in ‘fair’ condition with no corrosion for $33

The necklace is a curious-looking thing, but I don’t see anything about it which suggests masonic or secret society. What led you to research “(Order of the?) Amaranth” and “Ladies of the Nile”? I don’t see any specific symbolism that would point in those directions, or towards anything masonic. Is there some inscription or initials that can’t be seen in the pictures? I'm more inclined to think it's a piece of costume jewellery of a monstrous early Victoriana nature. Maybe it looked better when it was gilded.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Wow! some killer relic finds, congrats!

 

[Bodkin]

Cool finds.

The coin is as you say. The British government coined 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16 fractional 'Anchor dollars' for use in Mauritius and the British West Indies (excluding Jamaica) at this time. The VIII each side of the anchor indicates it to be 1/8 of a dollar.

The supply of Spanish dollars had been largely cut off as a result of Latin American revolutions and these coins were intended to fill the gap… especially for trading purposes. The absolute silver content was matched to the Spanish dollar via a combination of fineness and weight, so the 1/8th of a dollar was 3.3g of .892 silver.

‘Rare’ is a relative term. Some 142,000 were produced for 1822 and there’s one on eBay at the moment in ‘fair’ condition with no corrosion for $33

The necklace is a curious-looking thing, but I don’t see anything about it which suggests masonic or secret society. What led you to research “(Order of the?) Amaranth” and “Ladies of the Nile”? I don’t see any specific symbolism that would point in those directions, or towards anything masonic. Is there some inscription or initials that can’t be seen in the pictures? I'm more inclined to think it's a piece of costume jewellery of a monstrous early Victoriana nature. Maybe it looked better when it was gilded.

Thank you so much Red-Coat for the information on the coin. That is very interesting. I love to hear the history and always wonder about the story of how things ended up where they are now. Having found one of these makes my mind wander a bit and I will be on the search for more.
As for the "jewel", I looked down a few paths Masonic just to see what I could come up with. It reminds me of some Masonic jewels I've seen in the past and because it has a flower on it I thought maybe something maternal. No other marks anywhere that I can see. It might be just as you say, a piece of monstrous costume jewelery. Even then, strange to find it where I did. Thank you again for your feedback and info.

 

[villival]

Bodkin, what's interesting about your necklace to me (I don't think it's monstrous; I wouldn't wear it but it is super cool) is the eight petaled symbolism. It's repeated in your necklace and there are a few occult (hidden) spiritual and mystical traditions that use it as a symbol. Rosicrucians are one.

Here's a very general link about it's symbolism. http://https://www.reference.com/world-view/meaning-eight-pointed-star-7645cb54c995b806

Another thing you may find interesting is back in 2013 when I first started metal detecting, I found a hand made eight pointed star in the yard of my 100 year old house. During the same time period, I was metal detecting Bogue Falaya Park in Louisiana and my attention was directed to a tree, where an old, religious pendant on a chain, was just laying there under the tree like a Christmas present. There was no one in the park but me, so I couldn't find the owner.

 

[against the wind]

Congrats on an excellent hunt. The coin is a pleasant surprise.

 

[xcopperstax]

Great hunt and great story. That is a really cool coin that I've never heard of or seen on here!

 

[Relicific]

That’s a very unique coin
Congrats

 

[Mackaydon]

The same coin may have also been sent to Ceylon in 1822.
1822 - British Colonial - VIII Anchor Dollar
Don.....

 

[Red-Coat]

The same coin may have also been sent to Ceylon in 1822.
1822 - British Colonial - VIII Anchor Dollar
Don.....

Yes. It was Mauritius that made the initial request in 1820 for assistance in alleviating the shortage of currency and they received the initial batches of Anchor fractionals (1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 Dollars). More were stuck in 1822 for both Mauritius and the British West Indies (not used in Jamaica as I said). In addition to use in Mauritius, the circulation of the 1822 mintages was extended to other Indian Ocean colonies, including Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).