Oldest coin to date

[Fast Ed]

Oldest coin to date - updated pictures




Wow what a great day! Found this 1798 Large Cent on a 1700's era farm in Galway NY about 4 inches down. This part of the farm was also used as a coffee house and stop for the J Parker & Co. stagecoach line. As I checked out the property I noticed a period water well pump and figured maybe passengers would stop there for a drink and maybe lose a coin or two.

This is how she looks after a brief hot peroxide bath and Q tipping. There is a lot more cleaning to do and I'll re post pictures as I proceed.

The second coin is I believe a Hard Times Token which has just been toothpicked. I'm in love with this one because of the "Millions for defence but not a cent for tribute" message on the back. The front say's Merchants Exchange Wall St. N. York Built 1827 Burnt 1835....

 

[VERMONTIS]

Gotta love the sound of a largie!!!! Hard to miss Great finds -little ED

 

[rmbutcher4]

Cool token and that is a nice LC too.

 

[wvwildman]

nice finds congrats HH

 

[Don in SJ]

Both of your coppers are in great shape, especially being from NY . The 1837 era Hard Times token, yes Cru, it was used as money is a common variety, I have two in a collection I am currently cataloging, perhaps a 10-25 dollar value. The remaining crud on the Large cent might just have to stay there or you can try a qtip with just your "salivia" and see if it can remove anymore of the remaining crud. If not leave as is, looks good, you can always coat it with a light coating of melted bees wax, then buffed out removing excess, or just put a bit of mineral oil on it and wipe dry. Up to you, but I would not do anything more drastic to "clean" it, looks great as is right now.

I believe the Hard Times token matches the varieties I have which would be HT #293. I am surprised more are not found in the ground by those of us in the Northeast. Common ones found are Walsh's General Store, I got two of them.

Don

 

[Erik in NJ]

Very nice finds. I would leave the large cent as is and as Don said apply melted bees wax and buff it out. The HTT should come out well in a bath of warm (not boiling) peroxide. Use a Q-tip to gently remove the dirt. Then bees wax or a product called Verdi-Care is quite good too.

I found a HTT up in Mass a few years back--the political satire token with the turtle and references to Andy Jackson...yours is in better shape

 

[Erving]

Awesome finds!! Congrats.

 

[Fast Ed]

Thanks for all the helpful advice folks!

 

[CRUSADER]

Both of your coppers are in great shape, especially being from NY . The 1837 era Hard Times token, yes Cru, it was used as money is a common variety, I have two in a collection I am currently cataloging, perhaps a 10-25 dollar value. The remaining crud on the Large cent might just have to stay there or you can try a qtip with just your "salivia" and see if it can remove anymore of the remaining crud. If not leave as is, looks good, you can always coat it with a light coating of melted bees wax, then buffed out removing excess, or just put a bit of mineral oil on it and wipe dry. Up to you, but I would not do anything more drastic to "clean" it, looks great as is right now.

I believe the Hard Times token matches the varieties I have which would be HT #293. I am surprised more are not found in the ground by those of us in the Northeast. Common ones found are Walsh's General Store, I got two of them.

Don

Thanks for this. I have no experience & no books on these, it was just a pure gut feeling based on the inscription & other similar European medallion type quotes I have seen.

 

[Steve in PA]

Those are two wonderful pieces of American history. I would love to find one of those Hard Times tokens - especially in that condition!

 

[Wildcat1750]

A couple of quality keepers!!!

 

[Dr.Tones]

Wow! Amazing shape on that LC!

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[lordmarcovan]

Not even close to the oldest Greek coin dug in the US & posted on Tnet, & many Roman coins are posted your side of the pond, Arcadius being one of the latest, not the earliest (like the Hadrian the other week). Still a nice find.

Never claimed my Arcadius AE2 was the oldest coin found on either side of the pond, OR on T-net. Just the oldest coin I have personally found, that's all.