Late October Field Finds - 1837 Bank Token

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I realize this isn't 'Today's Find', but I just realized I hadn't posted this hunt... so better late than never! This field looked very promising from the road this past summer, as I felt there must've been a house here at some time. The picture you see of the site with the corn on it is what it looked like in August. I was eyeballing a lot of pottery and glass fragments and picked up some of the larger pieces, most of the pottery looks to date to the late 19thc. I found a small brass compact with no details on it, a very large harmonica reed and a very interesting metal 'shield' (I don't know what else to call it) with a hole punched in the top and bottom.

If anyone knows what this 'mystery metal piece might be I'd love to hear from you!

I finally got an 89 - 91 at 2" and out popped my first 1837 Lower Canada Half Penny Bank Token!

Half Penny Habitant Token, Issued by, City Bank, Lower Canada, Canada, 1837
Minted by Boulton & Watt, Birmingham, England
Dimensions: 28 mm (Diameter)
Weight: 9.236 g (Weight)
Obverse Description: Habitant standing facing three-quarters right; around, PROVINCE DU BAS CANADA DEUX SOUS
Reverse Description: Arms of the City of Montreal with the motto CONCORDIA SALUS; incuse on ribbon through arms, CITY BANK; around above, BANK TOKEN; below, 1837 / HALF PENNY
Edge Description: Plain
Shape: Round
Material: Copper
Issued By: City Bank of Montreal, Lower Canada, Canada, 1837
Mint: Soho (Mint), Great Britain, 1837

Thanks very much for looking,
Dave

 

[Old Dude]

I do believe I like field hunting much better than private home sites. That token is a nice old find Dave. Do they plow the field? I wish they did mine.

 

[beez0404]

I love the color and patina on the half penny token. Extremely nice find.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Awesome token! Pretty good detail! Don't know what the badge is but there was something on here a while back about the symbol being used way before Hitler. Now you have a mystery!

 

[pepperj]

Nice going on the token Dave, always a fun one to dig, the cut piece of metal is an interesting find, kind of reminds me of a maltese cross.

 

[Vino]

Nice Find Dave..
I actually found something similar her in Philadelphia pa..I thought it was cool being so far away from Montreal..
Anything you could yell me i would appreciate..Dont mean to high jack your thread...
George

 

[pepperj]

Nice Find Dave..
I actually found something similar her in Philadelphia pa..I thought it was cool being so far away from Montreal..
Anything you could yell me i would appreciate..Dont mean to high jack your thread...
George

Here's a link that tells of the different variations of the token.
Coins and Canada - 1/2 penny 1844 - Banks tokens

 

[Vino]

Here's a link that tells of the different variations of the token.
Coins and Canada - 1/2 penny 1844 - Banks tokens

Thanks pepper!!! Great link...
Good info to know..
George

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I do believe I like field hunting much better than private home sites. That token is a nice old find Dave. Do they plow the field? I wish they did mine.

Me too Dave!
There's just something about the peace & quiet of being alone in a field, that's what detecting is all about as far as I'm concerned!

This field will likely be turned, as wheat should be the next crop planted. It usually goes, soy beans, wheat then corn in these parts.
Dave

I love the color and patina on the half penny token. Extremely nice find.

Thanks for your post beez!
When I find thee in the fields they almost always come out rough.

Here's a pic of an 1837 One Penny I found in the front yard of an 1880 home in 2012, the condition is obviously much better!
Best of luck to you,
Dave

Awesome token! Pretty good detail! Don't know what the badge is but there was something on here a while back about the symbol being used way before Hitler. Now you have a mystery!

These are the types of 'mysteries' that I love too!
I've studied the 'cross' under a loop and can't see any sign of writing, I'm thinking possibly a sticker might have adhered to it.
I also find it unusual that if this is a manufacturers 'badge' of sorts, that it's not made of brass as it's fairly thin?
This piece is definitely a candidate for the tumbler this winter!

Best of luck to you MsBB,
Dave

Nice going on the token Dave, always a fun one to dig, the cut piece of metal is an interesting find, kind of reminds me of a maltese cross.

Thanks for your post and interest Jim!
I certainly looks like a Maltese Cross... but what was it's function.
Hopefully after it's tumbled more details will emerge.
Dave

Nice Find Dave..
I actually found something similar her in Philadelphia pa..I thought it was cool being so far away from Montreal..
Anything you could yell me i would appreciate..Dont mean to high jack your thread...
George

It's amazing how far afield these large coins traveled back in the day!
No problem with the 'hijack' George, we're all here to help each other whenever possible!

Looks like Jim answered your question... thanks Jim!
Dave

Thanks pepper!!! Great link...
Good info to know..
George

Thanks Jim!

 

[Ahab8]

One of the nicer looking token I've seen. I really like the design on that one. Nice find buddy

 

[ModernMiner]

VERY nice token Dave. That's an oldie but goodie.
Looking forward to seeing if there is anything on that cross. I dug two different ones in a yard earlier in the year, but both of mine were CW Vet related.
Congrats,
Doug

 

[dig kzoo]

That's one sexy token! congrats!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

One of the nicer looking token I've seen. I really like the design on that one. Nice find buddy

Thanks very much Abe!
I'm still drying out from all that rain I got earlier this week when I was in Bangor!
Take care buddy,
Dave

VERY nice token Dave. That's an oldie but goodie.
Looking forward to seeing if there is anything on that cross. I dug two different ones in a yard earlier in the year, but both of mine were CW Vet related.
Congrats,
Doug

Thanks very much Doug, haven't heard from you in a while my friend!
I think this 'cross' is most likely 'tractor machinery' related... I wish it was CW related!
Best of luck to you,
Dave

That's one sexy token! congrats!

Thanks kzoo!
Hope you're able to get out and do some detecting this week, +37 temps are in the forecast!
Dave

 

[pl8man]

One sweet token Dave ! Congrats
Glen

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

One sweet token Dave ! Congrats
Glen

Thanks for your post Glen!
Hope you and Carson are having a good year,
Dave