1730 Counterfeit British Half Penny, Tombac Button and Little More

[Bubba65]

Hi All,

I got out for a couple hours after work. I went to hunt the woods next to a field that has produced many 1700's coppers and Silvers. Anyway I was in the woods last week and got integral shank button. I sent an email to Don SJ and he confirmed it was a mid 1700's button or even could be a little earlier. So I hit the woods again today. I dug 1730 half penny fairly early in the hunt. I put it on my scale and it weighs 8.5 grams. I dug the Tombac button next. Then a little more junk and I do the pewter spoon bowl. Not to long after the spoon bowl I dug the little button which was a cool find have no idea what it is or how old it is. Last but not least I eyed the white thing that looked like a shell to me it had a pretty cool design, so I took a picture in the woods and then when I got home. I don't know if I am right on the shell idea or not so if anyone can confirm it that would be cool. Overall not a bad hunt today.

Bubba65

 

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[steelheadwill]

Thanks Herbie I swing a 14 year old Explorer XS, the only year they put the 1/8 inch headphone jack on. It gave me a 27 reading which is right when I have dug other half pennies too.

Bubba65

Thanks Bubba,
The 27 out of a possible 32 reading rules out pewter composition which is what I was thinking.
The black color, some blistering, and what looks like light colored metal where patina flaked on bottom reverse
is why I thought this.
And up until last week, 7 out of my 9 recovered GII's were of tin alloy.
Thinking there was a local making them, and what I find are his unpassable 'dumps', as most are very crude.
Nice coin find and the button is very interesting.
Openworks are scarce enough, and it's a rather odd shank design for the period.
When I first saw the latest pix I thought it might be clockwork, there is a round part in some clocks with a pattern of
triangles similar to your button, one side will have a raised notch on each working as part of a ratchet.
Neat fact about the 1/8" plug on your XS, the old Minelab is still running strong.
HH to you, Herbie.

 

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[Don in SJ]

I looked at the weights of my KGII's and also where they read on the digitial scale (ferrous/conductive readings) of the SE Pro and it looks like around 7.5 grams and less is the high end weight of the counterfets I have 7.5 grams being 117 grains. However, my heaviest KGII copper is a no doubt about it counterfeit, despite weighing in at a hefty 150 grains (9.75 grams).
So weight alone will not always be a factor but the reading

This is a work in progress, but am using as a possible reference guide for which ones are counterfeit just by the weight and digital readouts under standard controlled conditions..............

TYPE COIN	YEAR	WEIGHT	DIAMETER	FERROUS	CONDUCTIVE
KGII HALFPENNY	1729	133.4	28.5	0	29
KGII HALFPENNY	1729-39	102.1	28.2	8	18
KGII HALFPENNY	1730	110.3	27.3	7	27
KGII HALFPENNY	1730	144.6	28.0	0	29
KGII HALFPENNY	1731	137.5	29.2	0	29
KGII HALFPENNY	1733	132.4	27.6	6	27
KG II HALFPENNY	1733	149.2	29.0	6	27
KG II HALFPENNY	1733	122.9	29.2	2	29
KG II HALFPENNY	1733	110.1	27.2	7	23
KGII HALFPENNY	1734	135.8	29.0	2	29
KGII HALFPENNY	1734	126.4	27.9	7	25
KGII HALFPENNY	1734	127.4	27.0	9	10
KGII HALFPENNY	1734	150.4	28.0	8	20
KGII HALFPENNY	1729-39	96.4	27.1	7	25
KGII HALFPENNY	1729-39	100.2	26.4	3	29
KGII HALFPENNY	1729-39	119.7	27.5	4	28
KGII HALFPENNY 1/2	1729-39	73.7	28.4x12.4	6	27
KGII HALFPENNY	1729-39	101.9	26.1	8	14
KGII HALFPENNY	1729-39	106.3	28.2	7	25
KGII HALFPENNY	1729-39	106.7	27.3	6	27
KGII HALFPENNY	1729-39	110.3	27.2	8	20
KGII HALFPENNY	1736-55	86.5	26.0	7	24
KGII HALFPENNY	1738	139.2	28.5	6	27
KGII HALFPENNY	1739	127.4	28.1	7	27
KGII HALFPENNY	1740+	138.6	28.1	3	28
KGII HALFPENNY	1740+	117.2	28.1	7	27
KGII HALFPENNY	1740+	138.7	28.3	5	28
KGII HALFPENNY	1740	137.3	28.0	4	28
KGII HALFPENNY	1740	137.2	28.2	3	29
KGII HALFPENNY	1746	120.2	29.0	5	28
KGII HALFPENNY	1748	133.9	27.4	5	28

If a coin is cut in half (one is in this group) or holed or bent, the readings can be out of whack. Corrosion appears to have not made any difference on the conductive readings.