during the construction of Interstate 95.
The first coins were discovered on February 14th by some treasure hunters in an excavation area just north of Dock Street. In the Eighteenth century this was where the Dock River joined the Delaware River. In 1671 the Blue Anchor Tavern was constructed on the site. In 1691 Thomas Budd rebuilt the tavern and also erected some houses in the area. On February 14, 1975 a group of 178 Wiliam III cast counterfeit halfpence was discovered in a 10x10 foot area of newly unearthed dirt. Within a few days the area was closed due to the rapid pace of the construction.
The landfill was removed to three local dump sites (on Weccacoe Avenue, Third and Oregon, and Third and Callowhill). Coins continued to be found at the dump sites for several months including many additional William III cast counterfeits. In all 463 coins were uncovered including a 1785 Immune Columbia/Constellatio Nova pattern, a 1787 New Jersey copper, several Spanish and French coins and U.S. coins dating from a 1794 penny to a 1907 indian head cent. The listing below is limited to the British and Irish coppers found over the months. For a complete inventory see Newman and Gaspar.
http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/Br-PAhighway.html
The first coins were discovered on February 14th by some treasure hunters in an excavation area just north of Dock Street. In the Eighteenth century this was where the Dock River joined the Delaware River. In 1671 the Blue Anchor Tavern was constructed on the site. In 1691 Thomas Budd rebuilt the tavern and also erected some houses in the area. On February 14, 1975 a group of 178 Wiliam III cast counterfeit halfpence was discovered in a 10x10 foot area of newly unearthed dirt. Within a few days the area was closed due to the rapid pace of the construction.
The landfill was removed to three local dump sites (on Weccacoe Avenue, Third and Oregon, and Third and Callowhill). Coins continued to be found at the dump sites for several months including many additional William III cast counterfeits. In all 463 coins were uncovered including a 1785 Immune Columbia/Constellatio Nova pattern, a 1787 New Jersey copper, several Spanish and French coins and U.S. coins dating from a 1794 penny to a 1907 indian head cent. The listing below is limited to the British and Irish coppers found over the months. For a complete inventory see Newman and Gaspar.
http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/Br-PAhighway.html
