1788, Pary Mountain Copper 1/4 cent

[Zodiacdiverdave]

This was a cool find for me last week. I thought it was a completely toasted copper half but after looking at it in the right light I could make out enouph to make an ID. It is a 1788 Pary Mountain Copper half cent that has been cut in half. I didn't even know they existed untill now.

Parys Underground Group

HH ZDD

 

[Don in SJ]

That looks like a good ID, how in the world did you even get to that point of finding out it was a Pary copper? I would have been toltally in the dark on it and been asking the C4 collectors for help. The 7 looks different than the example you provided, perhaps it is corrosion, or possibly your find is one of the many counterfeits made. Either way, that sure is a different find and amazing what details are left did allow you to ID the coin.

 

[vpnavy]

Nice find Zodiacdiverdave!

 

[steelheadwill]

Great and scarce find, super job on the ID

 

[Iron Patch]

That looks like a good ID, how in the world did you even get to that point of finding out it was a Pary copper? I would have been toltally in the dark on it and been asking the C4 collectors for help. The 7 looks different than the example you provided, perhaps it is corrosion, or possibly your find is one of the many counterfeits made. Either way, that sure is a different find and amazing what details are left did allow you to ID the coin.

You wouldn't have had to go to the C4 as I could have told you. There's tons of these out there with different dates and no doubt many varieties.

 

[steelheadwill]

You wouldn't have had to go to the C4 as I could have told you. There's tons of these out there with different dates and no doubt many varieties.

Maybe someday I will know all this stuff

 

[Iron Patch]

Maybe someday I will know all this stuff

I had a good start on them... dug one 13 or so years ago. It was a one penny with the initials SW carved into it. I've probably dug one of the halfpennies, maybe even a few, but can't recall them.

 

[steelheadwill]

I had a good start on them... dug one 13 or so years ago. It was a one penny with the initials SW carved into it. I've probably dug one of the halfpennies, maybe even a few, but can't recall them.

That's what it takes
I know a bit about every item I've dug, Nothing like researching finds to boost your knowledge base.
Passion for MDing has blessed me with more of an education in history than any degree. IMO

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

You don't see cut coppers very often. And you have to wonder what the significance was of doing that. A 1/4 cent couldn't have been much even back in those days. Nice find Dave.

 

[wvwildman]

nice find congrats HH

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

To be honest it was pure luck that I was able to identify it. I could clearly see the date and the "HE" so I googled "1788 copper and up she came. When I saw what it was suppose to look like I started to see the Druit's head and the scrolled type PMC under the date.
Your right Bill, to cut a half penny makes you wonder what you could possibley purchase with a 1/4 of a cent.
HH'
ZDD

 

[Iron Patch]

To be honest it was pure luck that I was able to identify it. I could clearly see the date and the "HE" so I googled "1788 copper and up she came. When I saw what it was suppose to look like I started to see the Druit's head and the scrolled type PMC under the date.
Your right Bill, to cut a half penny makes you wonder what you could possibley purchase with a 1/4 of a cent.
HH'
ZDD

]


Could have been broken somehow, or cut later on when it had little to no value. I once hunted a field where there was many cut copper coins, at least a dozen of them, and we weren't the first to detect the place. I've found a cut coin here and there since, but never so many in one place. I should add they weren't always 1/2 or even 1/4, all fairly randon cuts if I rememeber right.

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

]


Could have been broken somehow, or cut later on when it had little to no value. I once hunted a field where there was many cut copper coins, at least a dozen of them, and we weren't the first to detect the place. I've found a cut coin here and there since, but never so many in one place. I should add they weren't always 1/2 or even 1/4, all fairly randon cuts if I rememeber right.

Makes you wonder why they would do that. Why not just chuck it if it couldn't be used. I found an 1854 copper that was drilled but it was a large hole in the center. I thought was a washer at first and almost tossed it in the bin before I noticed what it was.
ZDD

 

[Iron Patch]

Makes you wonder why they would do that. Why not just chuck it if it couldn't be used. I found an 1854 copper that was drilled but it was a large hole in the center. I thought was a washer at first and almost tossed it in the bin before I noticed what it was.
ZDD

In detecting you'll always have more questions then answers. If copper went by weight then it very well could have circulated like that. I have what I believe is a cut piece of silver spoon. A real clean cut so I think it probably was used as currency, but another mystery that will never be solved.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Funny when that came out of the ground the date, and some of the mongram was quite plainly visible.

 

[John Boy]

Cool find.