Define Colonial Please

[Narthoniel]

Hello,

I am a bit lost and hope someone can steer me right. What exactly is the definition of a "Colonial" find.

I personally assume that to be colonial, it would need to be made before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Therefore, it logically makes sense to me that a coin dated 1775 would be colonial, whereas a coin dated 1776 would not technically be such.

Help me out here please. I frequently see people calling post 1776 spanish silver coins as "colonial" finds and it is drivin me nuts. Don't want to go berserk on someone unless I am positive about the issue.

Am I in the wrong here?
Anthony

 

[Iron Patch]

The best definition is Colonial being the time period of the 13 Colonies before they became the United Stateds Of America. Colonial means other things to other places, and as far as detecting finds is concerned Colonial tends to mean Colonial era because many things we find you can't date by looking at them. (and because we're ok with accepting Colonial era even some stuff you can date still gets posted and accepted as Colonial)

 

[BuckleBoy]

It depends on whether you dig in PA or not.

 

[Iron Patch]

It depends on whether you dig in PA or not.

What if you accidentally drive too far West and dig that Merc dime in Ohio? Still Colonial?

 

[ivan salis]

how long did spain have south american colonies that minted silver coins for them that was commonly used in the USA ? at least till 1821 * thus it can be spanish "colonial silver" --that was used as legal tender until outlawed for use in the 1830's here in the USA --now if one is speaking strickly of when IS AMERICA as a british colony-- colonial time frames end -- then when america became a free and indepedant state would be the correct frame of time of course. --- but TO SAY "colonial silver" as long as it came from spains colonial mints would be correct (since it was spanish colonial silver ) used in AMERICA --so long as they do not say --AMERICAN COLONIAL SILVER

 

[BuckleBoy]

It depends on whether you dig in PA or not.

What if you accidentally drive too far West and dig that Merc dime in Ohio? Still Colonial?

If you drive further west, that Barber is a Territorial Dime.

 

[Colonial Copper Zeus]

I'll call any coin a colonial coin if it predates our federal minted coins whether anybody here likes it or not and if anyone knocks on my colonial Pennsylvanian door to argue than we will take it out back and have a good old Pennsylvanian wrastling match. And hopefully lose some coppers out of our pouches for the future generations.Loser buys the next 3 rounds at the local tippling house.
Chris

 

[oldhermit34]

Colonial Copper , call it what you want, I'm to old and frail to be a wrestler, but will by the drinks

 

[fmerg]

this is the time line from a history book hope it helps

Colonial America (1492-1763)
Revolutionary Period (1764-1789)
The New Nation (1790-1828)
Western Expansion & Reform (1829-1859)
Civil War (1860-1865)
Reconstruction (1866-1877)
Gilded Age (1878-1889)
Progressive Era (1890-1913)
Great War & Jazz Age (1914-1928)
Depression & WWII (1929-1945)
Modern Era (1946 - present)

 

[Kirk PA]

Yes, in proper terms, anything after 1776 ain't Colonial, but who wants to be proper? I dug a 1786 Colonial silver last year.

Kirk

 

[Don in SJ]

I think for forum purposes, using the term colonial in regards to coins found here in USA, a Fugio, Nova, State coppers, and any of the other coinage that was minted prior to the US mint operations can be called colonial. I do not fully agree to a 1820 spanish reale being called colonial for our purposes, since its mintage date is so long after our US mintage began. Otherwise even the coins from India could be called Colonial well in to the 1900s. ( India coppers did circulate here in the 1800's)

Most "Colonial Coin Collector's" collect State Coppers, Fugios and the like , about the only thing they do not collect and sell and buy in auction in their annual auction are US mint coins, although I have seen a 1793 Chain cent listed.

It is just too complicated for people to say "Confederation" coinage, or "Pre Federal", it is so much easier to group the coins into Colonial or US mintage coins....

But, a 1798 Large Cent would not be colonial.

A purist will always say (Colonial)prior to our winning our independence but the same purists will not use the terms for the period between then and the opening of the US mint, so go figure.

Don

 

[Kirk PA]

I think for forum purposes, using the term colonial in regards to coins found here in USA, a Fugio, Nova, State coppers, and any of the other coinage that was minted prior to the US mint operations can be called colonial. I do not fully agree to a 1820 spanish reale being called colonial for our purposes, since its mintage date is so long after our US mintage began. Otherwise even the coins from India could be called Colonial well in to the 1900s. ( India coppers did circulate here in the 1800's)

Most "Colonial Coin Collector's" collect State Coppers, Fugios and the like , about the only thing they do not collect and sell and buy in auction in their annual auction are US mint coins, although I have seen a 1793 Chain cent listed.

It is just too complicated for people to say "Confederation" coinage, or "Pre Federal", it is so much easier to group the coins into Colonial or US mintage coins....

But, a 1798 Large Cent would not be colonial.

A purist will always say (Colonial)prior to our winning our independence but the same purists will not use the terms for the period between then and the opening of the US mint, so go figure.

Don

Well stated, Don! I couldn't have said it better.

Kirk

 

[Iron Patch]

I think for forum purposes, using the term colonial in regards to coins found here in USA, a Fugio, Nova, State coppers, and any of the other coinage that was minted prior to the US mint operations can be called colonial. I do not fully agree to a 1820 spanish reale being called colonial for our purposes, since its mintage date is so long after our US mintage began. Otherwise even the coins from India could be called Colonial well in to the 1900s. ( India coppers did circulate here in the 1800's)

Most "Colonial Coin Collector's" collect State Coppers, Fugios and the like , about the only thing they do not collect and sell and buy in auction in their annual auction are US mint coins, although I have seen a 1793 Chain cent listed.

It is just too complicated for people to say "Confederation" coinage, or "Pre Federal", it is so much easier to group the coins into Colonial or US mintage coins....

But, a 1798 Large Cent would not be colonial.

A purist will always say (Colonial)prior to our winning our independence but the same purists will not use the terms for the period between then and the opening of the US mint, so go figure.

Don

Well stated, Don! I couldn't have said it better.

Kirk

That's probably why you didn't try.

 

[Don in SJ]

LOL, one thing I learned after 37 years in the military is KISS...........

Don

 

[apush]

Don--you hit the nail on the head. Most Americans have no clue there was ever the Articles of Confederation or even the Federalist Era. They have no idea we had 13 squabbling "states" after declaring indepedence. If not for the Republicans (or the Jeffersonian party) demanding a Bill of Rights--who knows we might have been 13 seperate nations along the lines of Europe. So, placing coins in those broad areas make so much more common sense for the amature collector (like myself--at least in coins--I do know something about history--well, just a tad
apush (advanced placement United States history)

 

[Narthoniel]

Thank you all for the input and the clarity on the subject. I greatly appreciate it. I especially appreciate the timetable for US History. Many thanks to all.
Anthony