Large cent experts?

[Hunting_Dad]

I am brand new to the hobby and found my first old coins tonight. Within an area the size of the bed of my truck i found two large copper cents and a .68 cal round ball (calipers). I was in an otherwise quiet field, 100 yds from where a house is shown on a map from 1850. Any cooper experts care to try to help me figure out what I found? Both are rather crusty, but the writing is visible on one (pictured), and appears to be poorly centered on the other. I am in Massachusetts. Thanks for your help!

 

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[Professor of Engineering]

Congrats on the old copper!

 

[Tuberale]

Congratulations! I still haven't found one, and I've been detecting for way too long.

 

[Noah_D]

Cool find! I can't tell what it is by the picture but the lettering stands out very boldly which makes me think it might not be a largie, IMO. Are the pics both sides of one coin or just one side of both coins?

 

[WVExplorer]

Maybe an early draped bust? Does it say Liberty across the top on the head side?

 

[Hunting_Dad]

Pictured is both sides of one coin. Both coins are 27mm dia
I think it might be a left facing profile... hopefully visible here

 

[Noah_D]

I think I see a profile now but I still not seeing a largie. IDK, hopefully someone else will shut me up and actually tell you what it is. It's definitely an interesting find!

 

[Hunting_Dad]

I am leaning toward King George II half cent. If you rotate the image above 90degrees to get the correct orientation, I can distinctly see the "VS" in GEORGIVS on the left with a left facing profile followed by a "X" on the right side of the coin.... on the reverse I believe I can make out the "NIA" of BRITANIA

 

[Trezurehunter]

It's not a U.S. Large Cent, I can tell that from the picture. Congrats on a nice old copper find.

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Silvermonkey]

A very nice coin Hunting Dad. I agree with others..I don't think its US. I'm thinking 1700's British... Someone on this site should be able to give you a solid ID. From one Mass digger to another...welcome!

 

[RelicMedic]

It looks like a counterfeit KGII. Could be wrong on the counterfeit part, but I'm no expert lol

 

[Hunting_Dad]

I got the coins oriented correctly to where... if i get the light angles just right and let my mind’s eye fill in the gaps I think they are 1736(56) and 1747!!!

I rinsed them off gently with some water and a soft brush....is there anything i should do to help protect/preserve them?

 

[EdHartzel]

No expert but- mine is another vote for KGII but it looks very different from any other KGII I’ve dug or seen dug. The highest probability is that it is a counterfeit. (Counterfeit colonial copper coins were quite common.) It may also have been defaced, or damaged in a fire. If only it could talk! What ever the reason- congratulations on your pre-revolutionary find!!!

 

[Evolution]

I agree it looks like a KG II. Mid 1700s. There were a lot of counterfeits floating around in the States but that doesn't make it any less of a good find if it turns out to be a counterfeit. In fact, I would rather have a counterfeit because it adds to the story of the find. Good job.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Congrats on a great find !

From what I can see from here ... I'm also thinking it's King George or something similar - don't think it's a Large Cent.
A safe way to bring out some detail - soak the coin in Olive Oil for a few weeks and use a toothpick to clean away the crud.

Good Luck !

 

[trdking]

I have heard tell on here that a hydrogen peroxide bath is also effective for bringing out detail. Copper is toast so no harm no foul

 

[JeffInMass]

Welcome aboard fellow Mass hunter and best of luck. Nice copper- looks like a KG, not a US Largie, but great find regardless!

 

[Hunting_Dad]

Thank you all for getting me pointed int the right direction.
After several days of careful 'tooth-picking' and poking around the internet I am fairly confident that I found a 1729 and 1732 counterfeit King George II halfpennies.... classic counterfeits in fact according to my research. They are significantly below the accepted weight for non-counterfeits (98gr rather than 140gr) and appear to represent the earlier style King George IIs, as was the custom in an attempt to give the appearance that the coins had been in circulation for some time.
I found a lot of good information regarding British Coppers here.... https://coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinIntros/CtfBrit.intro.html

Is there anything that I should do to protect them other than a coin flip?
I dont think I want to "clean" them any more. The small amount of dirt that remains actually brings out some details that I would like to preserve, but not at the cost of further corrosion.

Thanks again

 

[A2coins]

Thanks for the update those are really awesome finds counterfit ones are great as well Keep those finds coming Tommy