R-5 Rosa American Halfpenny :)

[steelheadwill]

Rosa Americana Halfpenny, Breen 132 <12 Known

Hi all,
Been trying to stay ahead of construction at the 1700s foundry site,

so I did some digging while the snow was falling.
ran into an iron patch near the next site to be cleared.
no structure, just some crumbled brick in the dirt.
all recoveries were from area shown in pic # 3.
4 coins, 2 buckles, 2 buttons in this tiny plot.
The Rosa is an odd coin, halfpenny value, but size and weight of a modern nickel.
'Bath metal' alloy. copper, zinc and a token amount of SILVER.
When I saw the bust I knew Woods had made these, looks the same as his more common Hibernia series.
(I've stopped trying to clean coppers)
The LCs were sandwiched back to back, '16 & '18.

My first iron shoe buckle too,
along with the rather uniquely styled broken bronze frame.
watch winder, copper ring, ricochet .72 cal musketball and a '68 canada dime,(50%?) go figure.



'U' on the front and 'V's on the back was odd.
Recovered a couple days ago, Figured some of you might like to see this one
Thanks for looking & HH All, Herbie.

 

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[granthansen]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fishstick]

That's a Great haul there WILL for all that fluffy stuff on the ground!!! CONGRATS... HH

 

[CASPER-2]

Nice hunt - nice finds

 

[VOL1266-X]

Looks cold there Herbie and you made some nice finds (back up to your old tricks). Some nice coins and relics found. A halfpenny is all that Modern Miner & Dman are worth (combined)-LOL. HH my friemd. It won't be that long until you can hunt the baxkwater areas again. Stay warm Bud, Q.

 

[HISPAN]

You live in a very different place to mine .. but also nice, I like those big American houses and snow .. although I'd be afraid to live with a forest behind the house ... maybe wolves or bears ... although the place is nice!
The coins are very good and old to be on the other side of the pond ... congratulations!

 

[saltyshark2002]

What an amazing find...I havent forced myself to hunt in the snow yet this year...still waiting for my first hunt of 2013

 

[testing123]

wow Herbie, you've been busy! Glad to see you're still able to get out, and not only that, but actually find some awesome stuff! I'm with saltyshark, maybe I'll try getting out in March, haha. But your devotion has paid off... again!

 

[Jeff H]

Great find Herbie and it is in nice shape for a dug Rosa ! Congrats! Two Rosa's posted in the same week! I bet that hasn't happened often.

 

[detectahead]

2stuck togeather, that's awesome!

 

[matt092079]

Two of these found within a week by two different people? I swear coins and relics have a certain time of year they like to come out. lol Congrats on an awesome find!

 

[Garabaldi]

Two of these found within a week by two different people? I swear coins and relics have a certain time of year they like to come out. lol Congrats on an awesome find!

Wow I found mr Rosa Americana Penny a few days ago congrats on yours it is in much better condition than mine.

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[steelheadwill]

Thanks All
I've seen similar finds pop up within days more than coincidence should allow...
That is a nice one Garibaldi,
Wanted to update that I got my reply from 'The Rosa Expert'

Was wrong with my own ID of "1722 Rosa Americana Halfpenny. Martin 1.1-A.1, W-1214. Rarity-5. VTILE DVLCI--"

Judging by the slew of photos I sent, he believes it is a:

"Breen-132, Ex. rare 1722 1/2P Rosa Americana Halfpenny, VTILE DVLCI" ." The obverse legend is GEORGIUS.DEI .GRATIA.REX. The reverse legend is ROSA AMERI:VIILE.DVLCI.1722"
Breen calls this the ''First Prototype Halfpenny'' and a "a very rare issue, with fewer than a dozen or so known"
I think the key difference is the missing top of the T in VTILE, and I see no top on this one.
when it is examined in hand I'll get a definitive answer.......



I'm glad I didn't clean this one as it looks to be pretty solid under the dirt

HH All ! , Herbie.

 

[steelheadwill]

I've sent the coin for evaluation and possible cleaning/restoration,
here's the last pic I got.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

That's some great finds in the snow Herbie. Love that halfpenny.

 

[HomeGuardDan]

Very cool Rosa!!! The one time I hunted up north (Connecticut), I was 5' from one that was found by a buddy. I like the early iron shoe buckle too!

Dan

 

[steelheadwill]

Good to hear from you Bill, thank you !!
Dan I've been swinging nearby the 'Good Find' too, it's ALMOST as nice as digging it yourself
HH everyone

 

[flyinryan2]

Very Very nice coin congrats!

 

[testing123]

wow, so less than a dozen known?? Is that an R7 at that point?

 

[DMN]

Will, that 1/2 penny is almost as sweet as that Canadian Dime. You should be proud you found both at the same site!
Good luck with the analysis on the coin. I really hope it's a winner. You can put it with those other champs you found in the tides.
Get out there and dig a bit more...before the blacktopping and foundations commence.