Colonial Silver cufflink... with Bust on the reverse?

[Iron Patch]

Out today, few fields being cut but far from what our selection is during prime time. Went back to a spot we hadn't hit for years and did ok. Was just good to get out. I dug a jews harp, crotal bell, and a few more odds and ends but the cufflink is the most interesting.


Silver cufflink button with initial of the original settler. He born Sussex Co., New Jersey in about 1753.

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: Colonial Silver cufflink with Bust? on the reverse

A great find but the more I look at it the more I think that the bust is as you mentioned, solder runoff. It's too small to be a bust from a coin and it's too big to be a hallmark...not to mention it is not stamped as a hallmark would be. Of course this does nothing to diminish the find! To be able to positively identify it to the original settler is outstanding and this one belongs on the banner!

Great find IP!! Romeo, I would still have IP lean towards it possibly being a bust of KGII, I cannot tell the size of it nor the weight, but maybe it is from a KGII silver penny! The bust location would be approximately correct. http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinText/Br-Silver.1.html

IP should be able to compare and evaluate if that size cufflink could have been a silver penny, minus the applied shank.

Don

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: Colonial Silver cufflink with Bust? on the reverse

A great find but the more I look at it the more I think that the bust is as you mentioned, solder runoff. It's too small to be a bust from a coin and it's too big to be a hallmark...not to mention it is not stamped as a hallmark would be. Of course this does nothing to diminish the find! To be able to positively identify it to the original settler is outstanding and this one belongs on the banner!

Great find IP!! Romeo, I would still have IP lean towards it possibly being a bust of KGII, I cannot tell the size of it nor the weight, but maybe it is from a KGII silver penny! The bust location would be approximately correct. http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinText/Br-Silver.1.html

IP should be able to compare and evaluate if that size cufflink could have been a silver penny, minus the applied shank.

Don

Don, If it were a coin it would be a very small one, but there are some old foreign silver that are tiny by our standards. That penny looks like it could be close! (in size anyway)

Romeo, I'll probably never really know and it doesn't make a whole lot of difference. The bust alone without other marks doesn't really sway things one way or the other because it could simply be a quality mark, or there for patriotic purposes. The same type of bust mark was also used to counterstamp George III 8 reales to use as emergency coinage. I can't say one way or the other but there's definitely nothing about that says it couldn't be. Heck even the B can be in question to some point but it was the surname of the property owner. It's neat but I'm not over the moon, it did charge me up a bit though to want something good.

 

[Kirk PA]

Re: Colonial Silver cufflink with Bust? on the reverse

It is about time you become a man and find a Colonial relic. It is good to see you back, IP!

Hit that creek with your passion!

Kirk

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: Colonial Silver cufflink with Bust? on the reverse

Just another bit of info.

I made the connection from the original settler to the current owner now.

J. B___ settled the land and his second wife was M. H____. I'm guessing she kept her name because the current property is owned by the H___ family. That's the connection for that very spot but is always possible there is more to it being over 200 years has passed.

 

[Kyle PA]

Re: Colonial Silver cufflink with Bust? on the reverse

A great find but the more I look at it the more I think that the bust is as you mentioned, solder runoff. It's too small to be a bust from a coin and it's too big to be a hallmark...not to mention it is not stamped as a hallmark would be. Of course this does nothing to diminish the find! To be able to positively identify it to the original settler is outstanding and this one belongs on the banner!

Great find IP!! Romeo, I would still have IP lean towards it possibly being a bust of KGII, I cannot tell the size of it nor the weight, but maybe it is from a KGII silver penny! The bust location would be approximately correct. http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinText/Br-Silver.1.html

IP should be able to compare and evaluate if that size cufflink could have been a silver penny, minus the applied shank.

Don

Don, If it were a coin it would be a very small one, but there are some old foreign silver that are tiny by our standards. That penny looks like it could be close! (in size anyway)

Romeo, I'll probably never really know and it doesn't make a whole lot of difference. The bust alone without other marks doesn't really sway things one way or the other because it could simply be a quality mark, or there for patriotic purposes. The same type of bust mark was also used to counterstamp George III 8 reales to use as emergency coinage. I can't say one way or the other but there's definitely nothing about that says it couldn't be. Heck even the B can be in question to some point but it was the surname of the property owner. It's neat but I'm not over the moon, it did charge me up a bit though to want something good.

You and I are in the same boat right now, IP. I found that potential counterfeit farthing last Sunday, but, since there is no detail showing and it would have been an oddball counterfeit, I will probably never know if it, indeed, is a counterfeit farthing. I have just chalked it up as a "could be one, but may never know" find.

Even though you, too, may never know if it was a silver coin before, it still doesn't diminish the fact that you were able to recover something very personal from that "B" settler. You, in this present time, have brought he and his family back to life, and that, IP, is more special than what any coin could do.

Kyle

 

[Derek752]

Hey I.Patch ! ...

Thats a BEAUTIFUL cuff link !! I'd bet 2 18th century Lg.cents and a 1R spanish cob that the 'missing link' is somewhere in the vicinity ! If anyone can find it you can

D. 8)

P/S I really like that 3rd regt.pewter ...

D. 8)

 

[romeo-1]

P/S I really like that 3rd regt.pewter ...

D. 8)

Me too. I hunted the field where this was found and only came away with a Royal Provincial pewter in less than ideal condition...but it is my favorite button find so far!

 

[Iron Patch]

Hey I.Patch ! ...

Thats a BEAUTIFUL cuff link !! I'd bet 2 18th century Lg.cents and a 1R spanish cob that the 'missing link' is somewhere in the vicinity ! If anyone can find it you can

D. 8)

P/S I really like that 3rd regt.pewter ...

D. 8)

There was a 1706 1 reale cob in the same field but I believe it was a french site stray.... a site I can't find! Possibly built over. Out of the two fields we picked the wrong one to be first at as the other was the good military site. We do now have permission for both so is cool to use as back-ups.

 

[Iron Patch]

P/S I really like that 3rd regt.pewter ...

D. 8)

Me too. I hunted the field where this was found and only came away with a Royal Provincial pewter in less than ideal condition...but it is my favorite button find so far!

Well you'll have to improve that on my 10th anniversary digs in Oct..

Jeeze Derek, been knowing you a long time now. One of these days Romeo and I will pack our tectors and head Upstate. Get my GW or USA!

 

[garthbfan169]

Very nice Iron that is a kool find!!