James II Halfpenny, a 1746 KG II & More to finish out a great decade of detecting.

[West Jersey Detecting]

James II Halfpenny, a 1746 KG II & More to finish out a great decade of detecting.

Most of my detecting this past year has been by permission at a home built circa 1800. There are acres of farmland and woods. In the past at the site I've found some Spanish silver, some 19th century US silver, many buttons and over a dozen large coppers. The vegetation has retreated differently than last winter, allowing me into spots that were previously overgrown. This weekend as I worked that area I started getting a lot of iron signals and began digging among a lot of bricks and square nails. A lot of the signals were good when sweeping in one direction only, while getting iron grunts in the other direction. Usually it was a square nail, but there were some really nice tombac buttons among the iron and brick. The first copper was a lightweight and relatively small disk (26mm) which I assumed would be unidentifiable, but it turned out to be a James II halfpenny, which were minted from 1685 to 1688. I'm only aware of two others being dug on this side of the pond, but I'm sure there are more. The KGII is a common find for me, but I don't think I have another with a clear date. Enjoy!






1746 King George


Sweet Tombac!

James II Halfpenny

 

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[BLK HOLE]

Very cool finds, congrats

 

[civil_war22]

Man, I wish I was able to hunt areas like yours. Here in Arkansas our once in a lifetime finds are ones that date from the Civil War era. Not much in the way of old coppers down here. Awesome finds, one day I’ll travel north to hopefully find my first copper, that isn’t a pre-82 Lincoln[emoji23]

 

[xcopperstax]

congrats on the 1600's coin. Something I have not achieved yet! Thanks for sharing it's story!!!

 

[digging440yrs]

 

[Underwonder]

Very nice site you have there with good finds. A good site with acres like that could be a lifetime of hunting! Enjoy....

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Man, I wish I was able to hunt areas like yours. Here in Arkansas our once in a lifetime finds are ones that date from the Civil War era. Not much in the way of old coppers down here. Awesome finds, one day I’ll travel north to hopefully find my first copper, that isn’t a pre-82 Lincoln[emoji23]

Let me know if you're ever coming out this way!

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Very nice site you have there with good finds. A good site with acres like that could be a lifetime of hunting! Enjoy....

Anyone who has detected with me knows that I'll spend hours in a 50x50 foot spot working it slow and steady. I've had sites that were productive for 10 years before I felt it was time to move on.

 

[villival]

Neil, I am asking sincerely and not sarcastically how you can tell it is a half penny. I have found two coins on my property that are pennies of a sort, but they are almost completely worn like your half penny.

This area was settled in the 1700's. These two pennys are not roached in the same way most modern era ones are down here.

Is it just by the measurement?

 

[civil_war22]

Let me know if you're ever coming out this way!

I sure will. I’d like to visit that area up north. Don’t think I’ve ever been that far north

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Neil, I am asking sincerely and not sarcastically how you can tell it is a half penny. I have found two coins on my property that are pennies of a sort, but they are almost completely worn like your half penny.

This area was settled in the 1700's. These two pennys are not roached in the same way most modern era ones are down here.

Is it just by the measurement?

A valid question, so thanks for asking, although as you can see the coin is far from "completely worn". The bust faces left, but I knew it was not a KG II. The hair tied "tail" of the bust and the top of the head were also clues, but the biggest clue is that the reverse of the coin has the harp that also appears on the William III and William and Mary coinage of the 1690's, which are all right facing busts. The measurement of 26mm and the weight confirmed it.
The attached photos may help.

 

[toasted]

I have found a Charles II copper but I have not found a James that I can id at least nor do I recall seeing any on this forum. Nice find

 

[Jeff H]

Great find!!! I can only recall one other James II posted here....and that was about 2 weeks ago.

 

[basque-man]

Great finds. Keep them coming and good luck in 2020!

 

[Silvermonkey]

Damn... those are some very nice finds! Congrats!

 

[☠️🏴☠️SCOLINO🏴☠️☠️]

Nice finds Neil. Congrats!

 

[Digger RJ]

Very Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very nice hunt, congrats!