1652 "As a mark of their soveraignty, they coyn mony" Edward Randolph, Kings Agent

[steelheadwill]

1652 "As a mark of their soveraignty, they coyn mony" Edward Randolph, Kings Agent

Hi all,
haven't posted anything in a while so I figured I'd show this dirty piece of silver.
Hunted a new site and spent an hour in the pasty mud with not much to show,
on the steep hillside along the water I noticed lots of scrap metal and trash,
made my way up the hill gathering all the copper and brass I could eyeball.
Turned on the Safari, stock coil was all I had with me,
amazingly I picked a signal from the trash, dug an 1878 IH, check the hole,
another 1878...
check the hole, another signal, different numbers.
Big root in the way, pulled some dirt from underneath, small silver coin
Take a close look, hmm 1652, that's familiar. wrap in leaf and secure it.
scan again, another signal. looks to be a Charles II Groat, now that's a rare find over here.

Very Strange, coin spill over older coin spill ? Anyway this was a first for me...

No pix of The IHs or the groat cause they got put somewhere safe in my truck
They'll turn up sometime.

This morning I identified my Oak threepence as a 'Noe-28', an 'R-6, 13-30 examples known' and she appears to be almost uncirculated and well struck (for Ma Silver) under that dirt.
Diagnostics on this one are easy, both legends start at lower left, 5 in date squashed.

Shown as an example is the Wurzbach plate coin of this variety, in the description he notes:

"Crosby could not find a specimen good enough to furnish a proper description. Excessively rare"

I take this to mean that he obtained a better specimen than Crosby, and was right proud of the fact.

Breen notes "All specimens I have examined are dogs, due to weak striking and weakly cut dies".

These quotes give you some idea of the apparent jealousy and competitiveness of collectors and 'experts' on Massachusetts silver.


given the condition of the best example I could find, I think mine is a looker.
Apparently these coins don't appear much in higher grades.

And a photo of a stern Colonial Governor from the period.


Trees seem to be sprouting all over this year.
Thanks for looking & HH Everyone

 

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[steelheadwill]

You do know the clean looking coin at the start of the post is only for reference?

I do make this completely clear when I post examples

 

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[Iron Patch]

Guess the banner folks were bored today.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Will do I read right, you are leaving the coin...as found un-cleaned.

SS

 

[hogge]

That is the point of getting it slabbed. Each time you handle the coin it is devalued. Slabbing the coin will increase the value and prevent devaluation.

Slabbing the coin may actually decrease the value with "Environmental Damage" and a possible "Low" grading. Serious collectors, (and dealers), prefer to examine ANY coin, But colonials especially, in the metal. There is NO guarantee that a coin will receive a good enough grade to value it as it should be. IMO.....grading services are good for authenticating a coin ONLY! The coin has been in the ground for 350 years. How is handling it now going to "devalue" it??

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Sweet silver !!
Keep @ It and HH !!

 

[Breezie]

Oh, WOW what an awesome piece of history!!! Way to go!!! Congrats on a great find and for making a well deserved BANNER!!! Breezie

 

[steelheadwill]

Will do I read right, you are leaving the coin...as found un-cleaned.

SS

Hi SS,
I have left my recent R6 coins untouched.
My experience with cleaning common older coppers has given mixed results, more bad than good.
This is very concerning when I think about doing anything with my 123 Rosa Half Penny, (bath metal alloy)
I've decided that I will do some slow and careful work on this silver.
I've gotten some good advice on how to go about this, and would appreciate any input you may have also.
Thanks for the reply

 

[steelheadwill]

Slabbing the coin may actually decrease the value with "Environmental Damage" and a possible "Low" grading. Serious collectors, (and dealers), prefer to examine ANY coin, But colonials especially, in the metal. There is NO guarantee that a coin will receive a good enough grade to value it as it should be. IMO.....grading services are good for authenticating a coin ONLY! The coin has been in the ground for 350 years. How is handling it now going to "devalue" it??

You said it all Hogge! Thanks

 

[steelheadwill]

Sweet silver !!
Keep @ It and HH !!

Thanks !! HH back at ya

 

[steelheadwill]

Oh, WOW what an awesome piece of history!!! Way to go!!! Congrats on a great find and for making a well deserved BANNER!!! Breezie

Thanks Breezie

 

[steelheadwill]

Guess the banner folks were bored today.

Thanks everyone for your replies and votes

 

[ivan salis]

sweet find indeed.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Hi SS,
I have left my recent R6 coins untouched.
My experience with cleaning common older coppers has given mixed results, more bad than good.
This is very concerning when I think about doing anything with my 123 Rosa Half Penny, (bath metal alloy)
I've decided that I will do some slow and careful work on this silver.
I've gotten some good advice on how to go about this, and would appreciate any input you may have also.
Thanks for the reply

I think you will benefit from cleaning the Silver, but done very slowly, and no chemicals. I would give a long soak in lemon juice and cotton buds, it takes longer with heavily encrusted Silver.

SS

 

[kevin hoffman]

WOW !!!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

I think you will benefit from cleaning the Silver, but done very slowly, and no chemicals. I would give a long soak in lemon juice and cotton buds, it takes longer with heavily encrusted Silver.

SS

I still vote for light electrolysis as the most effective and safest method for cleaning coin silver. Just use a small AC adapter, stainless steel spoon and a water/baking soda solution. Check frequently by gently rubbing the coin between your forefinger and thumb until the tarnish starts to dissolve. Practice on a newer silver coin first if you're hesitant to use this method. Just make absolutely sure you have the leads properly connected. The negative (black) lead should go to the coin, and the positive (red) lead should be connected to the spoon.

 

[Dr.Tones]

 

[Silver Searcher]

I still vote for light electrolysis as the most effective and safest method for cleaning coin silver. Just use a small AC adapter, stainless steel spoon and a water/baking soda solution. Check frequently by gently rubbing the coin between your forefinger and thumb until the tarnish starts to dissolve. Practice on a newer silver coin first if you're hesitant to use this method. Just make absolutely sure you have the leads properly connected. The negative (black) lead should go to the coin, and the positive (red) lead should be connected to the spoon.

Bill it's not the best way with hammered coins, they are to thin, especially if you can not see the intergrity of the coin, and Will's is well loaded with crud, I have had hammered crumble with electrolysis....no chance of that with the lemon juice.

SS

 

[swamp yankee]

BIG congrats on your finds,almost makes me want to return to Mass. I'd never expect to see pieces that old in my days,oldest I've found is a 1736 1/2 Reale out here next to the Pacific....

 

[screwynewy]

I still vote for light electrolysis as the most effective and safest method for cleaning coin silver. Just use a small AC adapter, stainless steel spoon and a water/baking soda solution. Check frequently by gently rubbing the coin between your forefinger and thumb until the tarnish starts to dissolve. Practice on a newer silver coin first if you're hesitant to use this method. Just make absolutely sure you have the leads properly connected. The negative (black) lead should go to the coin, and the positive (red) lead should be connected to the spoon.

Can't say I've ever found a hammered silver but I'm with Bill D. on light electolysis. I dug an early Reale at the coast in very salty, sandy soil that was heavily crusted and tarnished and used a cell phone charger with small alligator clips. Zapped it for 15 seconds and the crust just fell off leaving a really nice looking silver coin. Now if this paricular coin is that thin and fragile I'd probably just leave it alone altogether and not risk breaking it. I'd be thrilled with it just like it is.

 

[Wildcat1750]

I love the way your 'dirty piece of silver' made it to BANNER! Congratulations!!!