🥇 BANNER Nice 1798 Large Cent, a Waterloo halfpenny, and lots of buttons

[lenmac65]

I took a half-day off from work this past Friday to start the new detecting year. The year got off to a good start when I dug this 1798 Draped Bust cent at a former home site in the woods. Not a rare date, but it is in nice shape. I also dug this Waterloo half penny or token, which I thought was a Hibernia coin at first. It features a portrait of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. As I understand it, they were minted for circulation in lower Canada. It is in rough shape, but has plenty of detail left to identify it. In addition, I dug 14 buttons, Including what I think is a US Army eagle cuff button, possibly pre-Civil War. Pretty excited about this find, as this is my first button of that type. Any info would be much appreciated. Hoping for low snow totals, as I can’t wait to go back. Good luck out there.

 

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[Jeff H]

Nice work there Lenmac! I love those DBs that dip back into the 1700s. Also it's been a long time since I have seen a Wellington token posted anywhere. Nice find! I hope you can get back there soon. I got about 5 inches in my part of MA. Just wait until Thursday, it will be all washed away.

 

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[lenmac65]

Outstanding finds lenmac65! That LC is in fantastic shape. Did you do anything special in the cleaning process?
Love the Waterloo token too. I don't ever recall seeing one posted on this site before. Great start to the new year!
PS- Congrats on all those buttons. That's quite a site you have there. Well done.

Thanks Silvermonkey! No special cleaning method with the LC. I just used a toothpick, holding it almost horizontal to the coin. The front came off easy, while the back was hardened on a bit more. I was tempted to use water or peroxide, but I did not want to lose the highlights provided by the dirt, especially on the reverse. I was unfamiliar with the Waterloo halfpenny, and thought I had a Hibernia like your recent find. I used peroxide on it, as the dirt just wouldn’t budge, especially the obverse. That method did reveal some detail, which is best seen by tilting the coin in the light. The buttons I mostly left alone, though I used a rust remover on the Eagle button, which worked out well in this instance. I attached a pre cleaning photo so you can see. Snow should melt this week, which is fine by me. Good luck out there.

 

[lenmac65]

Nice work there Lenmac! I love those DBs that dip back into the 1700s. Also it's been a long time since I have seen a Wellington token posted anywhere. Nice find! I hope you can get back there soon. I got about 5 inches in my part of MA. Just wait until Thursday, it will be all washed away.

Thanks, Jeff. I was definitely psyched to see the 1700s date on that LC, and the Waterloo halfpenny was a first.. Raining now in my area too, which should get rid of the snow. Looking forward to returning to that spot. Good luck out there.

 

[Fugio]

What a great collection of finds. That LC is in great condition--an early one too!

 

[JeffInMass]

If you'll pardon the alliteration, More Massachusetts Miracles! Those finds are simply incredible my friend and I couldn't be happier for you- awesome job!

 

[lenmac65]

If you'll pardon the alliteration, More Massachusetts Miracles! Those finds are simply incredible my friend and I couldn't be happier for you- awesome job!

Thanks, Jeff! Massachusetts might not always be the perfect place to live, but it sure presents some good detecting opportunities. Hope the snow is gone in your area. Good luck out there.

 

[Rhapsody]

I took a half-day off from work this past Friday to start the new detecting year. The year got off to a good start when I dug this 1798 Draped Bust cent at a former home site in the woods. Not a rare date, but it is in nice shape. I also dug this Waterloo half penny or token, which I thought was a Hibernia coin at first. It features a portrait of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. As I understand it, they were minted for circulation in lower Canada. It is in rough shape, but has plenty of detail left to identify it. In addition, I dug 14 buttons, Including what I think is a US Army eagle cuff button, possibly pre-Civil War. Pretty excited about this find, as this is my first button of that type. Any info would be much appreciated. Hoping for low snow totals, as I can’t wait to go back. Good luck out there.

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so much colonial goodness, wow what a fantastic site good 4 you my friend

 

[Rhapsody]

Thanks! I feel the same way, and love seeing any U.S. coin with a 1700s date on it. High on my bucket list is 1700s U.S. silver, but that seems very hard to come by. Good luck out there.

you will get it, u know how to dig and u are on the right site(s)...make sure to post it
PS- that site seems siftworthy...got a site I need to sift myself but got to build a shaker box first...lol

 

[Trezurehunter]

Your LC is in great condition. I like all of those buttons as well.

 

[lenmac65]

you will get it, u know how to dig and u are on the right site(s)...make sure to post it
PS- that site seems siftworthy...got a site I need to sift myself but got to build a shaker box first...lol

Thanks! I am too lazy and impatient to sift 😁. Does look like fun though. Good luck with the shaker box.

 

[Rhapsody]

Thanks! I am too lazy and impatient to sift 😁. Does look like fun though. Good luck with the shaker box.

oh trust me I got the same issues why I haven't done it yet..lolz but thank you figured building the box will be a good winter project then in spring if feeling frisky I'll give it a whirl...more than likely I will just start river hunting when it gets warm tho...happy digz to ya!

 

[cannonball]

I took a half-day off from work this past Friday to start the new detecting year. The year got off to a good start when I dug this 1798 Draped Bust cent at a former home site in the woods. Not a rare date, but it is in nice shape. I also dug this Waterloo half penny or token, which I thought was a Hibernia coin at first. It features a portrait of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. As I understand it, they were minted for circulation in lower Canada. It is in rough shape, but has plenty of detail left to identify it. In addition, I dug 14 buttons, Including what I think is a US Army eagle cuff button, possibly pre-Civil War. Pretty excited about this find, as this is my first button of that type. Any info would be much appreciated. Hoping for low snow totals, as I can’t wait to go back. Good luck out there.

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I think that you should take off more half days from work. Congrats on the great finds!

 

[lenmac65]

I think that you should take off more half days from work. Congrats on the great finds!

Thanks! It was a nice half day for sure. With any luck, I can retire in a year or so, and enjoy some full days detecting. Good luck out there.

 

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[Almy]

Thanks for the comments. That is a very nice button. I have never found a button with any sort of portrait, let alone a historical figure such as the Duke of Wellington. Nicely done!

Sorry, my reply contained "button" but what I found was clearly a halfpenny token.

 

[lenmac65]

Sorry, my reply contained "button" but what I found was clearly a halfpenny token.

Thanks for the clarification. I should have taken the time to look more closely at your photos, as I would have seen it was clearly a coin/token - sorry bout that. It is a good one, with a much different reverse side than mine.

 

[unclemac]

there is actually a fairly large group of Wellington tokens that were common in Canada. the history of Breton tokens are quite interesting.

Coins and Canada - Wellington - Colonial and pre-confederation tokens

Coins and Canada - Wellington - Colonial and pre-confederation tokens

www.coinsandcanada.com

 

[lenmac65]

there is actually a fairly large group of Wellington tokens that were common in Canada. the history of Breton tokens are quite interesting.

Coins and Canada - Wellington - Colonial and pre-confederation tokens

Coins and Canada - Wellington - Colonial and pre-confederation tokens

www.coinsandcanada.com

Thanks for the link. I did not know there were different varieties. That would be an interesting collection to put together if I still purchased coins/tokens. Thanks!

 

[unclemac]

There is this Canadian token tradition called "Bretons" (Bruh-tauns). There are literally hundreds and hundreds of varieties. Essentially, Britain couldn't be bothered with the currency needs of its colonies so they had to use whatever they could come up with. Canadian collectors go nuts for these and pay BIG money for the more obscure varieties.

this will get you started...

Coins and Canada - Tokens and medals listed by P.N. Breton

Coins and Canada - Tokens and medals listed by P.N. Breton

www.coinsandcanada.com

 

[lenmac65]

There is this Canadian token tradition called "Bretons" (Bruh-tauns). There are literally hundreds and hundreds of varieties. Essentially, Britain couldn't be bothered with the currency needs of its colonies so they had to use whatever they could come up with. Canadian collectors go nuts for these and pay BIG money for the more obscure varieties.

this will get you started...

Coins and Canada - Tokens and medals listed by P.N. Breton

Coins and Canada - Tokens and medals listed by P.N. Breton

www.coinsandcanada.com

Thank you for the info and link. That is an impressive and interesting variety of tokens. This Wellington was the first token from Canada that I have dug; I really like it and would love to find some others.