1785 Vermont Copper - Had to Wrestle it Away from a Horse, But Worth It

[paleomaxx]

So today was an interesting one. The field I was in dates back to the 1700's, but most of what turns up in are old nails and the occasional farm implement parts so when I walk around in it, it's just to kill time until evening feeding starts. I was digging a bunch of these strange brass pins and I wanted to see how many of them were down there (four so far; they're in the last photos in case anyone has seen them before).

Riley, the horse in question, is used to the metal detector and finds the process fascinating. As soon as I've dug a plug, his nose is in the hole and I generally have to wait until it's passed his test before I get to see if there's anything there.



This particular plug was no different, but fortunately he was momentarily distracted by how delicious whatever was on the shovel was and I was able to break the plug in half and out popped this coin. The 1785 date was immediately visible so I thought I had found another British half-penny.



Some extremely light cleaning and heavy googling and I confirmed what I didn't believe at first. I had actually found a colonial state coin! When I first started finding 1800's buttons a month back, a state coin like a pine tree shilling was what I told myself was the absolute coolest thing I could find but was also far and away the least likely. Looks like I have to find something else for the top of the bucket list!

Below are the other interesting/entertaining finds of the day. I think the pin that says "Ready With Support" is military, but I can't find much on it. Same with the republican membership tag. These were from a different site though, only the leather rivet and those brass pins were in the same field as the Vermont copper.

 

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[nhbenz]

Sorry, I'd mis-read something leading me to believe he was alive two years ago... But, he died back in 1983, and his wife too in 2006. Here's his obit, which names his kids: William P. 'Hank' O'Donnell, retired executive sports editor of... - UPI Archives

 

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[hogge]

You have a Ryder 3 Variety Vermont copper. RR-3 Listed as RARE! 31-75 known GREAT FIND!!! Hogge

 

[46Wheat]

Very cool old copper

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[SilverHunters]

I found a bent one too, does anyone know what it is?

 

[btjbtj]

Very cool finds, and a great post to read! Congrats, -Lisa & John

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on that fantastic find! Can you train the horse to "sniff out" a Pine Tree Shilling?

The Vermont Colonial copper has avoided my coil, but Conn., Mass and NJ are in the case. I hope to find that beautiful old copper coin in future hunts, it's just a wonderful design.

 

[SilverHunters]

Will this help?

 

[colonialct]

Great find

 

[Z.K.]

The 1785 is truly outstanding. Those early landscape variety coins are very special...not only beautiful, but first of their kind post declaration and made in what was legally a national mint (since Vermont was a republic with its own constitution). I am really happy to see one found!

 

[paleomaxx]

Since I dug this I've found about a half-dozen LCs, KGII and KGIII half pennies, and a Connecticut copper in that area, but each one has been highly corroded by the soil.

And each time I pull out another worn and barely legible copper I thank the stars that the copper that came out of the ground with the least damage is this particular coin. And you will never hear me complain about the damaged large cents!

 

[Ahab8]

That's a tough coin to find my friend. It's a numbers game with the coppers and the hope is always that the scarce or rare coins come out of the ground in the best condition. It's a rare combination that you were lucky to get. Congrats....keep on digging that site. I'm sure there's a ton of early keepers hiding there