I found a Napoleon coin in California!!

[hbru123]

I was metal detecting at a early 1800’s-1920’s homestead. The Mormon battalion camped there, Union soldiers camped there and so did General Kearny’s troops. After about five minutes I got my first signal which was a small mule shoe, I took a few steps and got a solid 77-78 signal that was only half an inch deep so I expected it to be a beer can or something like that so I flipped the plug and out flew a quarter sized silver coin, I picked it up and the back was completely blank so I flipped it over and saw a bust that looked like a barber so I thought it was a Barber quarter, I went to rinse it off in the creek and immediately I knew it was not a barber quarter, I saw a few words around the rim and one said “Napoleon” so I looked up Napoleon coin and there it was! It is a Napoleon I 1 franc (these coins stopped being made after Napoleon Bonaparte’s defeat, subsequent governments pulled his coins out of circulation and melted them which makes these quite rare) ! These coins date from 1807-1814, why I find this coin amazing is that it predates California’s statehood, there is also a chance that is was dropped during the California Fur Rush in the early 1800’s which went right through this area. This is definitely not a common coin to find in the US (I have only seen one other found in the US) and even more rare to find on the west coast!

 

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[hbru123]

A pleasant surprise is a understatement! Cool old silver

Thanks! It definitely is!

 

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[hbru123]

Great Find, Congrats!!!

Thanks!

 

[hbru123]

Awesome silver coin find! Congrats!

Thanks!

 

[hbru123]

Nice going!! You joined the Ca Franc club, Welcome!! I found a 1811 5 franc last year up here in gold rush county! I know how you feel

Thanks! I saw your post, I was also shaking after I found out what it was.

 

[hbru123]

Whoa, this is super cool. One of the nester things I've seen anyone find on the west coast in a good while. Congrats!!

Thanks so much!

 

[hbru123]

They were legal tender in the us until 1857. So they floated all over the place as they made it into the USA.

Wow! Thanks, I didn’t know that.

 

[blueskyminer]

Congrats Hayden, thats a killer find! Sounds like you're doing your research and following through with action! Well deserved!

 

[hbru123]

Congrats Hayden, thats a killer find! Sounds like you're doing your research and following through with action! Well deserved!

Thanks so much!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... there is also a chance that is was dropped during the California Fur Rush in the early 1800’s which went right through this area.....

....I found a 1811 5 franc last year up here in gold rush county!....

I too have found several early French silver coins in CA . I agree with JackalopezL1 that it's probably a gold rush era loss. Based on the amount of wear on it. I do not think it was a mission era (ie.: pre-statehood) loss. Although the site you were at does date to earlier, yet I think your coin was lost later in the time-frame.

Here are the other 2 coins found so far from the site (not including some nuisance wheaties). The fractional 1/4 real copper is 1836 :

 

[Tom_in_CA]

And I would say that these other 2 coins are also 1840s or 1850s losses as well. But ... as you can see, you whooped both of us on age, by getting the oldest coin from the site so far. You lucky bum

 

[lookingharder]

Great coin. California is an amazing place to hunt because of all the history that has traveled through the state beginning with the Indians, Spaniards, Fur Traders, Gold Miners, Loggers. Asian workers. You have a pretty good chance of finding just about anything from anywhere around the world.

 

[CRUSADER]

''These coins date from 1807-1814, why I find this coin amazing is that it predates California’s statehood, there is also a chance that is was dropped during the California Fur Rush in the early 1800’s''

The most important thing to take note of, is not the date of the coin but its wear & this one has tons. Q. So when do you think it was lost after being heavily circulated? A. 40-50 years later, circa 1850s.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... A. 40-50 years later, circa 1850s.

Yes. Especially seeing as how one side has practically gone utterly smooth. But ... hey, ... here in CA , to even reach 1850's losses is a badge of merit. I know that in England , that's considered nuisance modern age coins . But to us here in CA, that's old

 

[can_slaw]

Breathtaking piece of history! You were not kidding about the back being slick too, wow! Congrats on a real beauty!!

 

[CRUSADER]

Yes. Especially seeing as how one side has practically gone utterly smooth. But ... hey, ... here in CA , to even reach 1850's losses is a badge of merit. I know that in England , that's considered nuisance modern age coins . But to us here in CA, that's old

I would never take that from anyone, just making sure the deductions are more thoughtful.

 

[hbru123]

I too have found several early French silver coins in CA . I agree with JackalopezL1 that it's probably a gold rush era loss. Based on the amount of wear on it. I do not think it was a mission era (ie.: pre-statehood) loss. Although the site you were at does date to earlier, yet I think your coin was lost later in the time-frame.

Here are the other 2 coins found so far from the site (not including some nuisance wheaties). The fractional 1/4 real copper is 1836 :

Thanks! I definitely agree that it was lost around the 1850’s

 

[hbru123]

And I would say that these other 2 coins are also 1840s or 1850s losses as well. But ... as you can see, you whooped both of us on age, by getting the oldest coin from the site so far. You lucky bum

Thanks so much!!

 

[hbru123]

Great coin. California is an amazing place to hunt because of all the history that has traveled through the state beginning with the Indians, Spaniards, Fur Traders, Gold Miners, Loggers. Asian workers. You have a pretty good chance of finding just about anything from anywhere around the world.

Thanks! It definitely is!

 

[K1DDO1979]

Sweet find! [emoji106]

 

[unclemac]

we should start a thread...."coins dug in the US"