My first shipwreck coin

[McCDig]

Bound for Philadelphia from Londonderry in 1785, The Faithful Steward ran aground on shoals off the coast of Delaware, just north of the Indian River inlet. Coins from its cargo of 400 barrels of British pennies and half pennies still wash ashore. I found my first on August 17th. It is a George III Hibernia half penny with enough detail to make out a figure facing right on the obverse and the left side of the harp on the reverse. I took it to the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum in Fenwick Island and the curator, Dale Clifton, examined it and authenticated it as from the Faithful Steward wreck. For point of reference, the towers in the second pic are at the bridge over the Indian River inlet.


Have to give a plug for Dale's museum. Check it out. https://www.discoversea.com/
​

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[McCDig]

Thanks RVRoamer66! Found this interesting article on a family connection between Robert E. Lee and passengers aboard The Faithful Steward.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11069062/faithful_steward_general_lee/

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Diving for Pleasure and Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[McCDig]

Thanks pa-dirt_nc-sand! Now the nc_sand makes even more sense to me.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Jamie1993! Good opportunity to use the Equinox in wet sand for the first time.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Tuberale! Interesting twist to the find is that shortly after the recovery I showed it to a family walking the beach. About an hour or so later, as I was making my way back down the beach, the father tracked me down to let me know that his son spotted one sticking out of the top of the sand cut. So at least two were recovered that day. I did it the hard way.

 

[smokeythecat]

If we get a storm that "blows by" the coast, that will be the best time to go. I didn't get any in 2019 but only went once. They are VERY HARD to find. Winter is absolutely the best, when the nor' easters come through. The guinea I got was on top of the sand! About 4 of my coins were found that way. Place has great shells and sea glass, again, in the winter months.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks alaskaseeker! That was the second time I'd been to that beach. I believe the first time was about 20 years ago. Should have gone more often.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks islamoradamark! Thanksfully just enough detail to nail it as a Hibernia.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Nice piece of history!

 

[McCDig]

Thanks smokey! Did pick up some decent shells. Saw no sea glass. Plan on heading back.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Valley Ranger! We've read a number of books on Robert E. Lee and I did a brief video at his statue in Charlottesville a couple years ago when it was slated for removal. We've visited Lexington and W&L, also the Chapel at VMI with the artifacts from Thomas Jackson. Incredible men.

 

[smokeythecat]

I was digging yesterday in rattlesnake country till the heat got me. Then went to a French and Indian War Fort (and bought a hat) and a nice park. I'll go the ocean when it's cold.

The Faithful Steward actually sank right on top of another wreck, the Three Brothers, both victims of the Moabar Shoal which no longer exists. The Three Brothers sank in 1774 and was carrying gold to the British officers in Pennsylvania.

 

[A2coins]

Wow amazing find I love the History behind that coin Great save thats a jem

 

[Inspector]

Awesome recovery & history to go with it, congratulations on the save

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Inspector! My expectations were exceeded. Hope to get back before too long.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Tommy! The only intel I had was to go about 8 to 12 telephone poles north of the inlet. That's about where this one turned up.

 

[Locke]

Love the history behind the coin!

 

[Silvermonkey]

Wow..you've got yourself an authentic wreck coin. That is quite something! Congrats!

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Locke. I read one estimate that the 400 barrels aboard the vessel numbered near half a million. Another estimates total coinage numbering in the thousands.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Silvermonkey. Got just one piece of silver on this beach trip, an earring with a stone. The halfpenny is the 'score' of the trip.

 

[xcopperstax]

Very awesome to be able to attribute that to a specific wreck! That would be really cool to make a display with that coin and some kind of artwork pertaining to the wreck! I love that stuff!