1st Signal- 1st Hole- 1765

EdHartzel

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Location
Bucks County PA
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 600, Garrett GTI 2500, JW Fisher Pulse 8X
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
It has been a while since I posted. I havn’t been detecting much as my elderly mother is not well and requiring our attention- which I am glad to give. This being my 1st year in the hobby- I was just thinking the other day how many hours I’d spent detecting this summer (several hundred) and while I’ve had lots of great finds- was dissapointed I had yet to break into the 1800s as far as coins.
After hours at my mothers bedside, (and her doing well-) I decided to take a break and stretch my legs dispite the fact it was drizzling. Grabbed the Nox, and started to walk the yard. “Lets see if anything really stands out” I thought swinging the yard I’d been over 25 times before.
In 5 minutes a very consistent, short 19 tone caught my attention. I didn’t even have a shovel with me so I left the coil over the target while I grabbed it from the truck.
8” down- there it was. Too big to be a penny, too thin to be a buffalo; one wipe and I saw lions.
A few more, and the letters and date appeared.
I skipped the 1800s and half the 1700s by pulling this 1765 Netherlands West Friesland 1Duit out of it’s home.
Speechless.
If anyone knows any history of why I may have found this type of coin in old Bucks County PA farmland- please feel free to share.
 

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Upvote 33
Great find, congratulations! :icon_thumleft:
 

It has been a while since I posted. I havn’t been detecting much as my elderly mother is not well and requiring our attention- which I am glad to give. This being my 1st year in the hobby- I was just thinking the other day how many hours I’d spent detecting this summer (several hundred) and while I’ve had lots of great finds- was dissapointed I had you to break into the 1800s as far as coins.
After hours at my mothers bedside, (and her doing well-) I decided to take a break and stretch my legs dispite the fact it was drizzling. Grabbed the Nox, and started to walk the yard. “Lets see if anything really stands out” I thought swinging the yard I’d been over 25 times before.
In 5 minutes a very consistent, short 19 tone caught my attention. I didn’t even have a shovel with me so I left the coil over the target while I grabbed it from the truck.
8” down- there it was. Too big to be a penny, too thin to be a buffalo; one wipe and I saw lions.
A few more, and the letters and date appeared.
I skipped the 1800s and half the 1700s by pulling this 1765 Netherlands West Friesland 125 Duit out of it’s home.
Speechless.
If anyone knows any history of why I may have found this type of coin in old Bucks County PA farmland- please feel free to share.

Somebody had a hole in their pocket a couple hundred years ago?
 

Very nice find! Strange, huh? Sure makes one wonder! All the best to you and your family.
 

Great recovery! Congrats!
 

Nice!!!! Congrats!!!
 

Nice find! :icon_thumleft: Nice 1700's coin!
 

Ever heard of the “Pennsylvania Dutch” There is a reason why! Cool find
 

That’s a real nice save. Congrats
 

Congrats, Great find of colonial history!

Do you think, or does anyone know if that coin would have been recognized as tender in the colonies? If not perhaps given to a child or tossed. The "Pennsylvania Dutch" were largely German, Swiss and Alsatian. They were all indentured so they didn't have a lot of choice where they went till the indenture was paid off. They were traditionally placed in "Germana Colonies" where they were used as a buffer from the Indians. The one thing they all had in common is that they all departed Europe from the Dutch port of Rotterdam. It would have been very likely that one of those colonist might have left Europe with this coin in his pocket.
 

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While begining my research on this coin- I find many references to the “New York Penny” which I believe was a Dutch coin of same denomination, different mint, later dates. Bowers makes no reference of the coin I have found or its later variants in his book. What a great mystery this one is to me! I can tell you- as soon as I woke up- I held it again to make sure I wasn’t dreaming it all!
 

I found a 1802 1/2 duit in long island. I imagine it was either from some sort of trading or an immigrant, seeing how the netherlands/east indies was a hub for all sorts of stuff including slaves and spices.
 

New Sweden was formed in parts of what became Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, as early as 1638. Following them were the Dutch from New Netherlands in 1655.
Source: https://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/specialreports/s_106064.html
The Pennsylvanian Dutch were actually German. These settlers originally came from German-speaking areas of Europe and spoke a dialect of German they refer to as "Deitsch"
( I didn't know that either.)
Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/how-pennsylvania-dutch-get-their-name-4070513
Don.....
 

Isn't that Amish country, aka "The Pennsylvania Dutch"?
 

Lancaster County is normally thought of in reference to the Amish, and Pensylvania Dutch but I suppose that is a modern association with where the still remain. Mom’s property is 1 acre about 1500 feet off the Delaware River. Surrounded by modern houses and parkinglots, its the last bit of the farm land I have researched back to 1900ish; with her house being built 1921. I’m sure it was farmed long before that. By whome I have no idea! If only this coin could talk!
 

Awesome find.Congrats :icon_thumright:
 

Sweet find, no doubt. I've yet to get past 1890 with a US coin (I've found a couple older Asian coins). Good luck in your upcoming hunts!
 

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