1773 George III Halfpenny - UPDATE ON BUCKLE 10/12

[West Jersey Detecting]

First of all I want to apologize for the crappy photos. My digicam seems to have bit the big one (this is the third one to die on me.), so I tried to scan these finds as best as possible with a scanner. Ironically, I found a Canon Elph SD750 camera and ordered a charger for it last night. You read that right. I found it when I was getting out of my car last week! I put it on Craigslist, but no one responded.

Well It has been some time since I have posted here. I started a new job a few weeks back and I have not been able to get out detecting. I finally did get a chance to get out and try my new 4x6 DD coil this morning. I decided to go back to a site that I have worked over pretty well over the last few years, so I wanted to check out the trashy areas with the new coil. I have cleaned the site out pretty well, so I spent a couple of hours with only a few old buttons, until I swept the coil over a tight spot I must have missed with the bigger coils. I got a nice 78 VDI reading at 4 inches, and dug the 1773 George III halfpenny. It looks a lot better in person than it does in the scans. I promise I will post pics when I get one of my cameras working again.

I also found the other item which is very intriguing. I think I have seen something like this posted not long ago, but my memory escapes me. The whatisit is made of brass and has a handshake on top, an all seeing eye in the middle with rays extending out. Under the eye is what appears to be a fox. On the left is three chain links. On the right is a cutting shears (?) the bottom tabs both have skeleton keys on them. Could it possibly be some type of fraternal organization? The site was once a Quaker meeting site, 225 years ago. Please HELP ID THIS!!!

(UPDATED THE PHOTOS on July 11, 2011)

 

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[Don in SJ]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Neil, congrats on the nice 1773, look forward to a good photo of both sides. The suspender buckle is similar to mine, and thanks to PBK I believe, here is the Patent info on it.

Included a photo of mine.

Don

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Don,

Thanks for the ID. I knew I has seen one on TNet before. I remember the post now!

Now I just need to figure out what the symbols mean!

Neil

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Neil, compared your 1773 with some Regals and it is not a Regal, it is another typical KGIII counterfeit, thanks for posting.....

Don

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Neil, compared your 1773 with some Regals and it is not a Regal, it is another typical KGIII counterfeit, thanks for posting.....

Don

I was wondering about that myself. The weight is 117gr, which seems to be a bit heavier than the counterfeits I have read about, but lighter than the Regals. Thanks for the info!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Heck YES! You get the prize for the Copper of the week. Condition is wonderful.

I'm thinking Masonic on that clip.



-Buckles

 

[Evolution]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Nice K G III....even if it is counterfeit. I know the frustration of not being able to show the true condition of a coin with a photo or a scan. But that one still looks good to me. Very good condition. Hit that spot a few more times with the small coil. There might be a few more of those floating around.

 

[hogge]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

WTG Neil, Looks like this is the weekend for King George's. I'll be posting mine soon. Found it yesterday. You got a nice coin with plenty of detail, Congrats.....Hogge

 

[Colonial Copper Zeus]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Heck YES! You get the prize for the Copper of the week. Condition is wonderful.

I'm thinking Masonic on that clip.



-Buckles

I agree with Buckles. I believe the all seeing eye is Masonic. That George III is in much better shape than the one I found on Saturday. Great job.
Chris

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Neil, at 117 grains and with the lack of wear that is on that coin, is a definite clue to being a counterfeit. You must always allow for wear on coins in judging actual original weight and since yours had a lot of detail, the 117 grains is underweight.

Again for those who don't know, the vast majority of King George III Halfpennies in North America, especially in the States are counterfeit, but were used. Also, most were minted after the dates (if readable) that are on the coin.

Don

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Neil, at 117 grains and with the lack of wear that is on that coin, is a definite clue to being a counterfeit. You must always allow for wear on coins in judging actual original weight and since yours had a lot of detail, the 117 grains is underweight.

Again for those who don't know, the vast majority of King George III Halfpennies in North America, especially in the States are counterfeit, but were used. Also, most were minted after the dates (if readable) that are on the coin.

Don

For those who are interested in learning more about counterfeit colonial coppers, click here:http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/Imitation.intro.html

Here is an 1876 chart of Masonic symbols. I do see some of the symbols, but not all.

 

[silverfreak]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Nice find Neil. I can't take my eyes off of that suspender buckle .

 

[Colonial KirkPA]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

You definitely have the coppa of the week!

Farmfields are never kind to our coins.

Kirk

 

[dgaughan]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

wow neil that gIII looks to be in awesome condition the suspender clip is cool also congrats and continued good luck

dylan

 

[Derek752]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

I think it looks GREAT Neil , Congrats on getting into the tight spot and being rewarded KG III

I have a Masonic fob type thing that has the same symbols as yours I dug along the original Erie canal back in the 90's in an area many 1830's & 1840's Lg cents were found. I've been looking for it for 2 years now and its somewhere in the cellar but I cant find it

Congrats

D.

 

[BlackX]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Nice finds, Neil!

Will you post some larger photos once you get the new camera going? (I vote "please do".)

Still going through the photos of finds on your site now and again. Some nice finds there!

_R_

 

[Nana40]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

I just couldn't imagine finding a coin that old around here! That is so awesome, Neil!! 8)

Nana

 

[civilman1]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

Nice going on the George III Neil and the new coil,I just borrowed Tymcmurray's 5.3 over the weekend and ended up with some find's he might have passed over....Tight place's for sure.Suspender buckle WILL take you in for a few moment's like Silverfreak said....Congrat's!!

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

I just couldn't imagine finding a coin that old around here! That is so awesome, Neil!! 8)

Nana

Thanks for all of your kind words...

It is killing me that I don't have a digital camera to show the coin the way it deserves to be shown. I will just have to be patient!

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: 1773 George III Halfpenny

You definitely have the coppa of the week!
Farmfields are never kind to our coins.

Kirk

Kirk,

Most of my coppers are found in wooded areas, rather than farm fields. In my area the soil is typically well drained sandy soil, which is usually very kind to coppers. Back in the Spring I found four coppers (1699,1787, 1809 & 1839) in a wooded area that was once a farmed field. The fertilizers really did a number on those coppers.

This is only copper number 6 for me this year. You guys have me beat by a long shot in quantity, but I win hands down in quality! Keep you eyes open for my updated pics when I get my camera working!

Neil