Oldest Coin yet - 1816 Austrian Kreuzer found in small Indiana BSA Camp

[OhioTrevor]

I found a 205 year old Austrian coin (Ein Kreuzer) from 1816 at an old Boy Scout Camp established in 1942 in Indiana. I have no explanation for how it got there. I have found hundreds of modern clad coins. You can't walk 20 steps without digging a coin, a neckerchief slide, a pocket knife, piece of tin foil, or tent stake. This coin was a real surprise. It appears the coin was run over by a train or something that flattened one corner of the front section of the coin. The limited web research I have done suggest that it was minted in Romania (G mint mark). I have included photos of a undug example. The alloy is unusual and its heavy - copper, bronze?

Other interesting finds:

A 25 cent trade token - marked airportransit, Los Angeles, 10053 International Road - I'd love to lean more about the age and purpose of such a token. Anyone ever seen one of these?

A medical grade stainless steel pocket knife marked "winchester" on the blade

 

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[bill from lachine]

Trevor,
Good score you never know what you'll find at a given site! Kind of like going on an Easter egg hunt each outing!

 

[OhioTrevor]

Trevor,
Good score you never know what you'll find at a given site! Kind of like going on an Easter egg hunt each outing!

Thank you. Agreed. That's part of what makes the hobby so interesting.

 

[iAmMike]

Cool find, congratz! Maybe it was there for a show and tell type event.

 

[JVA5th]

Nice old coin surprise. I love when stuff like that happens.

 

[OhioTrevor]

Cool find, congratz! Maybe it was there for a show and tell type event.

Yes. Maybe coil collecting merit badge?

 

[Digger RJ]

I found a 205 year old Austrian coin (Ein Kreuzer) from 1816 at an old Boy Scout Camp established in 1942 in Indiana. I have no explanation for how it got there. I have found hundreds of modern clad coins. You can't walk 20 steps without digging a coin, a neckerchief slide, a pocket knife, piece of tin foil, or tent stake. This coin was a real surprise. It appears the coin was run over by a train or something that flattened one corner of the front section of the coin. The limited web research I have done suggest that it was minted in Romania (G mint mark). I have included photos of a undug example. The alloy is unusual and its heavy - copper, bronze?

Other interesting finds:

A 25 cent trade token - marked airportransit, Los Angeles, 10053 International Road - I'd love to lean more about the age and purpose of such a token. Anyone ever seen one of these?

A medical grade stainless steel pocket knife marked "winchester" on the blade

Nice!!!! Always cool to find something unexpected and unexplained!!! Makes the research more intriguing!!! Congrats!!!!

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

A very nice bunch of finds !
Congrats on finding you oldest coin - it's always a day to remember !

 

[Silvermonkey]

You just never know! Nice find!

 

[Timbermaster]

Cool find for sure!

 

[Westfront]

Good job on the Kreuzer. Made a long way...
You're right, mint is in Romania. And it's a copper coin in very good condition for beeing dug.

1/4, 1/2, 1 Kreuzer Österreich Ungarn Kaiserreich 1 Kreuzer 1816 G ss+ selten

1/4, 1/2, 1 Kreuzer Österreich Ungarn Kaiserreich 1 Kreuzer 1816 G ss+ selten ✓ MA-Shop Kauf mit Garantie ✓ Angebot mit Münzen und Medaillen von der Antike bis zum Euro.

www.ma-shops.de

 

[unclemac]

I actually can tell you about that coin. that coin of that date were coins imported to Canada by some merchant or some entrepreneur during this time to be used as small change. During this period in Canada anything that could pass as a penny or half penny was used as such, including uniform buttons. The borders were very ill defined in those days and coins of all types flowed both ways. The US didn't demonetize Spanish coinage until the 1850s.

 

[OhioTrevor]

Good job on the Kreuzer. Made a long way...
You're right, mint is in Romania. And it's a copper coin in very good condition for beeing dug.

1/4, 1/2, 1 Kreuzer Österreich Ungarn Kaiserreich 1 Kreuzer 1816 G ss+ selten

1/4, 1/2, 1 Kreuzer Österreich Ungarn Kaiserreich 1 Kreuzer 1816 G ss+ selten ✓ MA-Shop Kauf mit Garantie ✓ Angebot mit Münzen und Medaillen von der Antike bis zum Euro.

www.ma-shops.de

Thanks for the link and encouragement. Much appreciated.

 

[OhioTrevor]

I actually can tell you about that coin. that coin of that date were coins imported to Canada by some merchant or some entrepreneur during this time to be used as small change. During this period in Canada anything that could pass as a penny or half penny was used as such, including uniform buttons. The borders were very ill defined in those days and coins of all types flowed both ways. The US didn't demonetize Spanish coinage until the 1850s.

Fascinating. Thanks for the insight.

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

I found a 205 year old Austrian coin (Ein Kreuzer) from 1816 at an old Boy Scout Camp established in 1942 in Indiana. I have no explanation for how it got there. I have found hundreds of modern clad coins. You can't walk 20 steps without digging a coin, a neckerchief slide, a pocket knife, piece of tin foil, or tent stake. This coin was a real surprise. It appears the coin was run over by a train or something that flattened one corner of the front section of the coin. The limited web research I have done suggest that it was minted in Romania (G mint mark). I have included photos of a undug example. The alloy is unusual and its heavy - copper, bronze?

Other interesting finds:

A 25 cent trade token - marked airportransit, Los Angeles, 10053 International Road - I'd love to lean more about the age and purpose of such a token. Anyone ever seen one of these?

A medical grade stainless steel pocket knife marked "winchester" on the blade

cool finds and love those tokens, wtg

 

[rastinirv]

I think you're more likely to find unusual coins like the one you found at BSA camps and elementary schools owing to the fact that kids might be carrying stuff like that for a show and tell (as suggested in an earlier comment); I suspect if you had a Venn diagram of the type of child that carries coins around to show their friends (whether in a formal Show and Tell in class or an informal "Hey, check this out!" during recess) and the type of child that joins the Boy Scouts, you'd see a lot of overlap.

Great find, in any case!

 

[Relicific]

Very cool coin