1775 King George III Today in the sleet...

[lovedigging]

Got permission this past weekend at a new spot where there was an old furnace dating back to the early 1800's. Was dying to get there, had sleet today, roads were bad, couldn't make it to work (ha ha) but was determined to get there and see what I could find! Pounded it hard for 6 hours, didn't find what I thought I was going to find. The eagle button came fairly early in the hunt, but never did manage to find a bullet all day. Hit an area where I found the 1920 & 1946 one-cent coins, then a 1964 nickle. This was followed by the 5 flat buttons, and then I found the piece that is posted with the eagle button that I hope someone can help me identify. Shortly before dark, I dug what I thought was another flat button and didn't realize I had a coin until I got home and started "clean up". I was very shocked to see I had dug a King George III half-penny dated 1775. All in all, my butt is still soaked, but it WAS a good day! Hope you enjoy the pictures, and hope someone can give me insight on that one piece...

 

[hogge]

That is a fantastic looking copper! Congrats. Hogge

Hogge, Maybe you and I should trade copper's Just a suggestion!!!!

You seem to be doing well enough all by yourself. The CS buckle should be one of the best finds of the year.

 

[HuntingVa]

That is awesome my oldest to date is 1811 50c. peice bust half one day ill find me a colonial great finds!!!

 

[BomberJohn]

Concrats on the KG III Copper! It's in awesome condition.

 

[Colonial Copper Zeus]

That's in great shape. I found quite a few this year in farm fields but they are pretty much all toasted and in terrible condition. It would be nice to find one in this condition.
Chris

 

[Green1]

That's a beauty K.G !!! don't get much better than that !!

 

[Cr4zyH0rs3]

on your finds there.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

I am not an expert, but it looks like it may be one of the many non regals (counterfeits). It looks very similar to my 1773 "Aging George" variety.

If you have a digital scale you should weigh it.

The weight range of the Regal Halfpence should be between 140.9 - 167.9 grains, and the diameter should be 28.5 - 30 mm.

Mine came in at 117 grains, well below the minimum acceptable weight.

In any case, the counterfeits are an important part of our history. These coins filled a need in the weak economy. It is estimated that 40% of the coppers circulating at the time may have been counterfeit!

Congrats on a great find in great condition!!!
Neil

 

[robfinds]

Hello the find with the eagle button looks like an horse fitting type of thing.

HH Robert.

 

[Don in SJ]

Hello the find with the eagle button looks like an horse fitting type of thing.

HH Robert.

Agreed, my son found one just before New Years, look the same.

Don

 

[lovedigging]

I am not an expert, but it looks like it may be one of the many non regals (counterfeits). It looks very similar to my 1773 "Aging George" variety.

If you have a digital scale you should weigh it.

The weight range of the Regal Halfpence should be between 140.9 - 167.9 grains, and the diameter should be 28.5 - 30 mm.

Mine came in at 117 grains, well below the minimum acceptable weight.

In any case, the counterfeits are an important part of our history. These coins filled a need in the weak economy. It is estimated that 40% of the coppers circulating at the time may have been counterfeit!

Congrats on a great find in great condition!!!
Neil

Neil, Thanks for the information, That was very helpful. I don't have a scale at this time but looks like I should buy one. Again Thanks...

 

[lovedigging]

Hello the find with the eagle button looks like an horse fitting type of thing.

HH Robert.

Agreed, my son found one just before New Years, look the same.

Don

Don and Robert thanks for the information on that piece. That's exactly what it looks like...

 

[Don in SJ]

I am not an expert, but it looks like it may be one of the many non regals (counterfeits). It looks very similar to my 1773 "Aging George" variety.

If you have a digital scale you should weigh it.

The weight range of the Regal Halfpence should be between 140.9 - 167.9 grains, and the diameter should be 28.5 - 30 mm.

Mine came in at 117 grains, well below the minimum acceptable weight.

In any case, the counterfeits are an important part of our history. These coins filled a need in the weak economy. It is estimated that 40% of the coppers circulating at the time may have been counterfeit!

Congrats on a great find in great condition!!!
Neil

Neil, Thanks for the information, That was very helpful. I don't have a scale at this time but looks like I should buy one. Again Thanks...

Actually over 90% of KGIII coppers in USA are counterfeits, in my own personal survey of over 100 ground found identifiable KGIII coppers none were Regal, but in the past year one Regal was posted on this forum, so I would say almost 99% of ground found KGIII coppers are counterfeits.

Don

 

[DCMatt]

Hello the find with the eagle button looks like an horse fitting type of thing.

HH Robert.

Agreed, my son found one just before New Years, look the same.

Don

Agree. I believe we went round and round on one of these in a post last year. My recollection (sometimes NOT to be trusted) was that it was part of a horse bit.

DCMatt

 

[allen]

i can only imagine the finds you will make on a sunny day, after all of those great finds on a winter day...

 

[civilman1]

Nice going Todd.....Bet that one was a hell of a suprise.Great Dig!!!

 

[dcooper1]

WOW, That is one INCREDIBLE coin, I can't believe the shape it is in.
Good luck on finding some more information on it. There should be TONS more stuff there, get out and get it!!!!

 

[kdismuke1]

LOOKS LIKE YOU FOUND A GREAT SITE TO HUNT.CONGRATS ON THE FINDS.

 

[Deno]

Now that is a nice suprise.

 

[Harry_Morant]

Nice finds - well done!

 

[wildheart]

Wow - awesome finds!

The swivel part could be to a horse's bridle, but it also looks like it might have come from a carrying strap to an 1861 Springfield Rifle, Euroarms .58 cal. or even an 1863 model. I tend to go with the 1861 Springfield, since the button looks like a Scovill Mfg. back that matches their 73 model. This particular model backed several different military buttons on both the Union and (early) Confederate sides, but none of those were cavalry buttons. The front appears to be a General Enlisted Men's marking, which is consistent with this style back, and by 1863, most Union enlisted men carried this model rifle. So if you found these items close together, I'd tend toward the rifle strap swivel.

All guesses on my part, but based on some research. In my several trips to the Fredericksburg/Antietam/Chancellorsville areas, I was consistently struck by the fact that the Civil War roamed over many Colonial era settlements, and your finds just prove it. This whole idea just fascinates me. Thanks so much for sharing your great relics!

Wildheart