Mystery copper IDd 1796 portsea (Hampshire) copper. Thanks Neil

NJ Marty

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Jun 7, 2008
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Mystery copper ID'd 1796 portsea (Hampshire) copper. Thanks Neil

Got out today to a new place and got the 2 center within 5 miniutes of detecting, I was feeling good. Then I popped out this holed large copper(need help with ID) I can make out a few numbers in the date, it appears to be 1790. Has a ship on the back and on the front is a rider on a horse stomping a serpent spitting flames, just awesome. Any ideas? Then near the end of the day I finally got the elusive reale it was on edge almost directly under an old screw cap 8" down. I still have a smile on my face. Thanks for looking.
Marty
 

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Trond

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Mar 23, 2006
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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

Nice finds. :)
 

John (Ma)

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

Great looking finds, congrats
 

creeper71

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Dec 5, 2007
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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

I'm at work so I don't have my redbook to tell you the exact coin,but I think it's a ship token....
 

coltdavis

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

Awesome finds! Congrats on your first reale!!!!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Sorry i cant help with the ID of the coin hopefully someone will chime in with some info...HH and best of luck
 

The Seeker

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

Congrats on the first reale.......There nice to find, and it seems that when you find one .....the large coppers come too. The ship coin you have there is a hard times token , there were different types not sure about yours! WTG
 

Don in SJ

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

Congrats on the coins, the token, hmmmmmn, almost looks like a horseman slaying a dragon?? It is not a ship token that it is Red Book from what I see.. Whatever it is , a neat find for sure!

Don
 

S

seger98

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

Some very nice finds! Congratulations to you! :thumbsup:
 

creeper71

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

Don in SJ said:
Congrats on the coins, the token, hmmmmmn, almost looks like a horseman slaying a dragon?? It is not a ship token that it is Red Book from what I see.. Whatever it is , a neat find for sure!

Don
ok I'm sorry..like I said I'm at work an couldn't check for sure... was hoping it was tho....
 

Don in SJ

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

creeper71 said:
Don in SJ said:
Congrats on the coins, the token, hmmmmmn, almost looks like a horseman slaying a dragon?? It is not a ship token that it is Red Book from what I see.. Whatever it is , a neat find for sure!

Don
ok I'm sorry..like I said I'm at work an couldn't check for sure... was hoping it was tho....

There are several Hard times tokens with ships, but not that one in Red Book, the one side is just not clear enough to say what the design is, and I was just stating it was not seen by me in Redbook, lol.............
 

hogge

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

Awesome finds! Congrats.... I hope someone can figure that coin out for ya. Hogge :thumbsup:
 

West Jersey Detecting

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

Here is what my research uncovered:

"Scarce Portsea (Hampshire) copper Conder halfpenny token dated 1796, produced by the proprietors of a group of public houses in the area. Obverse: Ornate rendering of St. George on horseback slaying a dragon: “PROMISSORY HALFPENNY 1796”. Spines on dragon’s neck. Reverse: Man-of-war sailing ship with a large salmon below: Edge inscription: “PAYABLE AT S SALMON I COURTNEY & E. FROSTS PORTSEA X”. The background is that S. Salmon kept the “Brown Bear”, John Courtney, the “George” and Edward Frost the “Ship” pubs. Therefore, the salmon refers to the owner of first pub, the “Brown Bear”, St. George and the Dragon refers to the second pub, the “George”, and the man-of-war refers to the “Ship”. This token therefore probably saw frequent use in exchange for ale etc. in these public houses."

They seem to sell for around $30 in nice shape. I can't find much more info on the token, but COOL FIND!!!

Here is the link: http://www.abccoinsandtokens.com/DH.Hants.079a.001.html


Congrats,
Neil
 

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creeper71

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

good going Neil... was tryin to find something about the coin an couldn't awesome job
 

OP
OP
NJ Marty

NJ Marty

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Re: Very good day my first reale. Also unknown large copper ID needed

Neil in West Jersey said:
Here is what my research uncovered:

"Scarce Portsea (Hampshire) copper Conder halfpenny token dated 1796, produced by the proprietors of a group of public houses in the area. Obverse: Ornate rendering of St. George on horseback slaying a dragon: “PROMISSORY HALFPENNY 1796”. Spines on dragon’s neck. Reverse: Man-of-war sailing ship with a large salmon below: Edge inscription: “PAYABLE AT S SALMON I COURTNEY & E. FROSTS PORTSEA X”. The background is that S. Salmon kept the “Brown Bear”, John Courtney, the “George” and Edward Frost the “Ship” pubs. Therefore, the salmon refers to the owner of first pub, the “Brown Bear”, St. George and the Dragon refers to the second pub, the “George”, and the man-of-war refers to the “Ship”. This token therefore probably saw frequent use in exchange for ale etc. in these public houses."

They seem to sell for around $30 in nice shape. I can't find much more info on the token, but COOL FIND!!!

Here is the link: http://www.abccoinsandtokens.com/DH.Hants.079a.001.html
Thanks Neil, you got it and I appreciate the research you did. I was hoping for a draped bust large cent when I popped it out but I think this will suffice as I doubt I will ever dig another one like this, I think it is a uniqe kind of find rarer to dig than a draped bust. I love it.
Marty

Congrats,
Neil
 

RelicRick

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Aug 29, 2006
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Re: Mystery copper ID'd 1796 portsea (Hampshire) copper. Thanks Neil

WTG Marty!
Great finds for sure...I'd hit that place again w/o question. Hey Neil, great ID and info!
 

DugHoles

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Re: Mystery copper ID'd 1796 portsea (Hampshire) copper. Thanks Neil

INCREDIBLE FINDS!!!!

Happy Hunting,

Dugholes
 

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