Four...Hundred...Year...Old...Silver...Coin...Foun d...Today!

smokeythecat

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Nov 22, 2012
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I was digging the 17th century site today. We had a late start, but still had four hours. I missed my chance at stardom with the squirming through the fence slot again. No one took a picture. Hence, no youtube stardom, like that's worth anything anyway. Well, I went back to the hot spot I found last Saturday and it didn't disappoint. Lots of pieces of small lead were found as well as some colonial buck shot, hand made, and found a few modern lead bb shot from shotguns. Those are annoying signals, even 3" deep! A lot of the forget broken iron will ring as high tones on the Deus. So I dig them. Half the time its NOT iron. Dig it all, let God sort it out.

I found a nice 17th century button, then some more and on one part of the site there was a later house, ca 1770. Over there I found some other flat buttons and more of the large colonial buck shot. A little later I got a prize, a very early partial eyeglass buckle in cast brass.

In the area we were getting the most from the 17th century house, I got an "85" on the Deus, but this target sounded SMALLER than the others.

I took out a big plug and the ground was plain muddy and in some places you'd get stuck in the mud.

After chasing the signal with the pinpointer, I picked out a small, round disc. After getting some of the mud off, I noticed a silver gleam on a corner.

After I got home I cleaned it a little, the copper inherent in the silver tarnished it somewhat. There is some detail remaining, but it appears to be a hammered silver coin.

It is about 15mm in diameter and weighs .84 grams. It may be a contemporary counterfeit. I'm thinking it started out life as an English 1/2 groat, James I or later. Now, in theory it could be from any place, and any point in time. The pirates went all through there and we believe fired on the little settlement, as we're finding grapeshot and swivel shot near where the houses were. The 17th century pirates could have had coins from any period, and time.

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. A picture of both sides, and the little buckle are attached.
View attachment IMG_1467.jpgView attachment IMG_1468.jpgView attachment IMG_1469.jpgView attachment IMG_1470.jpgView attachment IMG_1466.jpg

Any idea on identification is appreciated. EXCITED!
 

Upvote 57
No idea, but sweet find!

Nicely done, and all the best,

Lanny
 

I can clean it some more, any ideas folks?
 

Honestly it doesn't look like a coin.
 

Congrats on finding hammered, a real coup in N. America. It is definitely in the English hammered coin style but I'm no expert on that stuff. Hope Crusader will see this and chime in.
 

Wouldn't surprise me it's another banner for ya Smoke!!!! If you don't mind me asking what program and settings do you usually run? I just boarded the DEUS train and we seem to hunt similar places. CONGRATZ on whatever it is bud....
 

Honestly it doesn't look like a coin.
That was my first impression.

My notes on it are as follows;

'If' it's a coin it's a counterfeit - silver plated copper-core. (fairly common in all periods including hammered).
'If' it's a coin it's NOT British.
Maybe a BILLION Coin.

Until it's a little cleaner, that's as far as I can help with it.
 

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Fabulous Smokey!

A little compensation for missing the Hall of Fame. Banner!
 

Cru'dad thought he saw small Crowns on it which might take you in the Swedish Ore direction. I know some of these can be Billion which would account for the copper bleeding.
A Billion coin is possible.
 

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Hi, nice finds. Congrats:icon_thumleft:
 

Good job!
Looks like a Henry the ?....,
but is so shot, can't tell.
The buckle is 1700's, likely
 

Nice finds. Send some of that cool stuff up this way. Crazy how 2 hours in either direction from me is a a bunch of old history.
 

Soak in vinegar for about 8 hours then brush off with a soft toothbrush. will take off the green stuff, then we will see.
I am going to lean out the window and say its a coin.
there are tons of 16xx and 17xx small milled silver coins (found a bunch in germany) which have low-grade silver that look similar when u pull em out. they bend because they are so thin. (i have one 1689 Hessen penny that weighs 0.1 gram)
good luck
 

Way ya go Smokey. Nice.:icon_thumright:
 

I have no idea what it is, but it does appear to be a coin. Nice find.
 

Amazing Ill wait for Id I hope its a banner you deserve it your a great member awesome posts and very helpful to many Ill keep my fingers crossed
 

Well thanks for all the comments. I went back to the site today and dug part of a trash pit out, but more on that later. I have the coin stewing at the moment, I just got back. I have some (one I think) of the billon coins, this is not that. There are microscopic scratches on the edges and it's solid silver.
 

BTW the little buckle should date 1550-1650 more or less, and considering where it was found, more like 1650. Site was occupied by English settlers by then.
 

Wow very cool find! Can't wait to find out what it is! Congrats! :icon_thumleft:
 

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