Sometimes one just has to laugh at what auction sites try to pull off

[pepperj]

Been buying off this auction site for 15 years about and lately they've tried to step up their game.
I had a good laugh this morning on these 5 ship wreck copper coins.
Can't believe the ID on these 5 bag seals.

Even AI got the ID correct

 

[pepperj]

HERE IS THE ACTUAL DISCRIPTION

Historical Context & OriginRegion: England (recovered from shipwreck context, likely colonial trade routes)Material: Copper alloy with marine encrustation and patinaPeriod: 18th–19th centuryDescriptionThis group of five copper trade tokens/coins was recovered from a shipwreck context, dating to England’s colonial trade era of the 18th and 19th centuries.
These small-denomination tokens were widely issued by merchants, taverns, and local authorities as substitutes for official coinage, making them indispensable in everyday commerce. Each token exhibits heavy marine corrosion and encrustation from long submersion, though faint traces of legends and devices remain visible under sea-wear.
Together, they form a rare and evocative relic of global maritime commerce and colonial-era trade.Features- Five individual shipwreck-recovered copper trade tokens/coins- Distinctive marine patina and encrusted surfaces from centuries underwater- English merchant tokens used in everyday and colonial trade- Tangible relics of maritime commerce and naval risk- Displayable as both a collector’s artifact group and conversation piece.
Cultural SignificanceTrade tokens played a vital role in sustaining local economies in Georgian and Victorian England and throughout colonial possessions. Their circulation reflected the challenges of small-denomination coin shortages while also facilitating daily transactions across expanding trade networks.
The survival of these tokens in a shipwreck context underscores the inherent risks of maritime transport and colonial exchange. Rediscovered today, they offer a direct connection to the realities of global commerce, seafaring, and the circulation of wealth during one of England’s most expansive periods of trade.
ConditionShipwreck condition: heavy corrosion, surface encrustation, and loss of fine detail from prolonged marine exposure. Legends and designs obscured but forms remain intact. Stable and suitable for display as an authentic shipwreck-recovered group.
Dimensions (Approximate)Largest token: 1 inAge (Approximate)125–325 years old
Provenance From a private collection in Brea, California, USA. Acquired by the current owner in 2025.
Dimensions:Largest token: 1 in
Pickup category timeslot {A}
Price Estimate: CAD 250 - 400
Ships from Toronto, ON. No local pickup. Buyer arranges shipping and insurance directly with seller after auction closes.

 

[GaRebel1861]

Did you get them?

 

[releventchair]

Dayuum.

Do they accept genuine horseshoe nails as payment?

 

[Red-Coat]

"Maxsold does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, legality, safety or availability of any of such items. While Maxsold uses commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the items available on the Auction Platform are as described in the available listing, it makes no guarantee of any kind in relation to the items sold or made available."

and

"Conditions of items sold: All items are sold "as is, where is" and we do not guarantee the quality, accuracy, legality, safety, availability or regulatory compliance of any items, which may include infant and child products. Unless authentication is provided, all items are sold without a certificate of authenticity. Buyer beware."

I bid three of your Earth Dollars.

 

[pepperj]

Did you get them?

I sent them a nice message. 😁