Holy Copper Coin!!! Here's one you don't expect!

[Lost Signal]

awdw called me for an after-work hunt at a colonial permission site. I caught all of the green lights coming home, and we were on site by 5:30. Didn't dig many signals, but one of them was a coin that I never expected to find (actually a coin that I'd never heard of)... a Clement IX 1/2 baiocco, 1667-1669. Would love to know the story behind this one.

 

[DigginNorthernVa]

Way to go! Nice job on the ID!

 

[Truth]

Now that incredible!!!! 1660’s Copper unbelievable. Congratulations

 

[GaRebel1861]

That’s a killer find! It may even be a banner. Good luck.

 

[Aureus]

Great find! Congratulations!

 

[Digger RJ]

Awesome!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Megalodon]

Lovely green patina has protected that nice coin from disintegration. Great find!

 

[washingtonian]

Very interesting. Sure makes you wonder what in the world that is doing here all the way from Italy. Nice find!

 

[Bob-E-Pin]

That is simply amazing. Really, that is awesome.

 

[jimzz977]

Holy moly that’s one old coin ,congratulations

 

[basque-man]

WOW! Now that's some piece of history !!!!!!

 

[Lost Signal]

Thanks everyone!

I think it's already a pretty rare coin, but it's especially strange to find one at a colonial South Carolina site. The colony banned Catholics from settling for fear that they might conspire with the Spanish. There were a few indentured servants and Acadian refugees, but no established church until the late 18th century.

I suppose the coin could have been seen as just a piece of copper in general circulation, but you would think, that in that climate, a papal coin would have viewed with suspicion.

 

[RVRoamer76]

Very nice OLD Copper! Congrats!

 

[Hawks88]

Now that’s an awesome find. Congrats

 

[mbcuce]

You could have waited on your brother, that’s all I’m saying...

 

[Trezurehunter]

What a great coin. Expect the unexpected in this hobby !

 

[All tones digger]

Wow! that's a gorgeous copper!

Congratulations!

 

[Whyme]

Nice find! Congrats! That's what I love about this hobby.... you never know what you're going to dig up!

 

[HIGHSTRUNG]

Outstanding find! Congrats!

 

[xcopperstax]

Incredible find there it's fascinating to hold that and imagine how it got to be here in America! Congrats!