My oldest coin dug to date

[neodetectorist]

2023 is off to a good start.
Dug in the USA.
I found my oldest coin to date today. 1837 Canadian Bank Token Half Penny.
Non-Dug example also shown. Mine has pretty good detail considering it being buried for possibly 180+ years lol.

OBVERSE
Standing man and the legend.
Lettering: PROVINCE DU BAS CANADA UN SOU

REVERSE
Shield of Arms with the denomination and the legend.
Lettering: BANK TOKEN CONCORDIA SALUS BANK OF MONTREAL 1837 HALF PENNY

 

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[neodetectorist]

View attachment 2062530

Thanks Pepper

 

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[unclemac]

there are actually 4 different examples of this token based on the bank that issued it. Look on the reverse at the ribbon, it will indicate which bank.

Coins from Canada – Numista

All coins from Canada, presented with pictures, descriptions and more useful information: metal, size, weight, date, mintage...

en.numista.com

 

[neodetectorist]

...well yes it is a token, it would be known as a "Breton 522". But also not a trade token but a bank authorized token.

During the first half of the 19th century there was a chronic shortage of small coins in Lower Canada. In 1835, following a government decision to remove all the lightweight pieces from circulation, the shortage became acute. No official coins were issued but the Bank of Montreal, the Quebec Bank, the City Bank and La Banque du Peuple were given authority to issue penny and halfpenny tokens of a weight similar to that of British copper coins.

Great info here.
I feel I have a very good historic piece here with a story.
Now……. What was it doing 10 inches down in an old farm field?
If only our finds could talk.

 

[unclemac]

well, it was ploughed under over time right? What state did you find it in? In the 1800's the northern border was more of an idea than a fact. Coins and tokens flowed both ways. I actually have Canadian bank tokens, British shillings and Newfoundland coins taken from my grandfather's pockets from the early 1900's. He was a logger and had lots of stories from the logging camps along the border as the railroads moved west. He always said the Canadian loggers were called "pea-soupers".

 

[neodetectorist]

well, it was ploughed under over time right? What state did you find it in? In the 1800's the northern border was more of an idea than a fact. Coins and tokens flowed both ways. I actually have Canadian bank tokens, British shillings and Newfoundland coins taken from my grandfather's pockets from the early 1900's. He was a logger and had lots of stories from the logging camps along the border as the railroads moved west. He always said the Canadian loggers were called "pea-soupers".

It was found in NE Ohio. 1854 map shows it as a large farmed parcel during that time. I have found horse tack and bale seals there which would lean toward it being farmed.

 

[neodetectorist]

there are actually 4 different examples of this token based on the bank that issued it. Look on the reverse at the ribbon, it will indicate which bank.

Coins from Canada – Numista

All coins from Canada, presented with pictures, descriptions and more useful information: metal, size, weight, date, mintage...

en.numista.com

This information really helps me out And I appreciate it.
Mine is People’s Bank

 

[pepperj]

Great info here.
I feel I have a very good historic piece here with a story.
Now……. What was it doing 10 inches down in an old farm field?
If only our finds could talk.

In the area it's a great sign that the site is pre/early Victorian.
I would estimate that 20+% are of these types when digging Bank Tokens at any given site.
This link always has a good read on the early Token/coinage of Canada.

Coins and Canada - 1/2 penny 1837 - Banks tokens - Quebec, Montreal, Upper Canada, City Bank

Coins and Canada - 1/2 penny 1837 - Banks tokens - Quebec, Montreal, Upper Canada, City Bank

coinsandcanada.com

 

[oldmxrat]

Very cool find and loved the history lesson poured out over it, congrats!

 

[neodetectorist]

Very cool find and loved the history lesson poured out over it, congrats!

Yes, agree. I wasn’t expecting so much amazing info. Thanks

 

[unclemac]

American coinage starts with this bad boy.... Mexico-Canada-America are all very interrelated, their histories are intertwined with their coinage. It is a great story thread to investigate. Not about patriotism, but instead its about all of us nameless folk that were on the ground trying to make a life, make a living, inventing an economic system from scratch.

4 Maravedis - Charles and Joanna, Santo Domingo

Detailed information about the coin 4 Maravedis, Charles and Joanna, Santo Domingo (1492-1821), with pictures and collection and swap management: mintage, descriptions, metal, weight, size, value and other numismatic data

en.numista.com

 

[CRUSADER]

I'm glad I kicked off the debate, learnt loads.

 

[Coinstar magnet]

Yeap interesting thanks, I see the difference, but still a Token.

 

[grasshopper]

Great info here.
I feel I have a very good historic piece here with a story.
Now……. What was it doing 10 inches down in an old farm field?
If only our finds could talk.

I find a quite a few of these Canadian bank tokens in Upstate NY (few hrs south of the border). I imagine it won't be the only one you'll find. As others mentioned, there are many varieties. Nice work!

 

[pepperj]

Habitant token - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Canadian tokens are a very deep well to fall into, hundreds of them circulated.

Thanks for your link.
That was a good read, not seeing it before.
Habitant Token is used but it's shortened to just Token.

 

[pepperj]

I find a quite a few of these Canadian bank tokens in Upstate NY (few hrs south of the border). I imagine it won't be the only one you'll find. As others mentioned, there are many varieties. Nice work!

How about returning the favor with some of your coinage being north of the border. 😉

 

[neodetectorist]

I find a quite a few of these Canadian bank tokens in Upstate NY (few hrs south of the border). I imagine it won't be the only one you'll find. As others mentioned, there are many varieties. Nice work!

Do you have any pictures posted here?
It would be interested to see how your soil treated these coppers compared to our soil.

 

[grasshopper]

Do you have any pictures posted here?
It would be interested to see how your soil treated these coppers compared to our soil.

I can get some pics when I'm home, I've posted them here before but would have to sift through a lot of posts to find them

 

[grasshopper]

How about returning the favor with some of your coinage being north of the border. 😉

Haha! No problem. I can't tell you where I put them though, it would ruin the fun

 

[Silvermonkey]

Big congrats on finding your oldest coin neodetectorist! Very unusual find too.

 

[Almy]

From their appearance, these tokens seem to be copper rather than an alloy. They seem to fare well in the soil. It's really nice to find such a datable artifact on a site. I just found a single 1832 Nova Scotia one penny token on a farm site I have been trying to date for years. I was really pleased and I suspect you are with your token too.