Spanish Coin ? Found by friends son first time out

[T Hunter]

This coin was found in an area that dates to the 1600s . Found by my friends small son on his first detecting trip . Can you help us ID this ? Pictures in 2 Post .Thanks

 

[T Hunter]

More Pictures

 

[divewrecks]

I can make out what looks to be a cross, but little else from the pics. I am not really saying you should clean it just yet, but can you see anything else? The main problem is that it is way to round to be a spanish "cob" coin, which is what one would suspect from the 1600's on up through the aerly 1700's. Even the presentation coins known as "royals" seldom achieved a degree of roundness like this coin, which must have a cast or machine punched periphery. My first thought is that it is a modern reproduction, even with the layer of corrosion present. Do you have a means to weigh it? Although I can see fingers in the pic it would be nice to have a modern coin pictured beside it to help in evaluating the scale of the pics. Cool for a first time find even if it does turn out to be a repro....

Stan

 

[Mackaydon]

Could it be a 1773 Virginia Halfpenny?
George III bust facing right; cross on the reverse.
If so, it would weigh about 7.5g and have a diameter of about 25 mm.
Originially (if it is a 1773 1/2 penny) it looked like these: http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinText/VA-halfd.1.html
Don...

 

[T Hunter]

I think you nailed it. The more i look at it ,It sure does look like a Virginia Half Penny. Thanks for all the info and Happy Thanksgiving

 

[Mackaydon]

You're welcome; and what a great find for your friend's son--and on his first outting, no less!! Maybe a pic of the son holding the coin would look good; our youngest MD-er in TNet ?

 

[divewrecks]

Good job Don. That link sure explains the off-center cross and non-silver looking toning.

Stan

 

[Mackaydon]

Stan:
I, too, was thinking Spanish when I first saw that cross, but changed my mind after reading your post.
Thanks,
Don.....

 

[ivan salis]

1773 virginia half penny colonial era copper --great find for a 1st timer -- great find for anybody at any time really