Think I found my oldest coin ever...

[Joe G]

Went back to that old park where I found some large cents, the colonial copper, musket ball, and colonial buttons. Found another flat button like the others (late 1700's early 1800's). Dug another good deep signal and found this. I thought at first it was another large cent but they don't look like this that's for sure. While I'm not sure if it's the exact coin I've got posted below, I think it's safe to say it's pretty dang old and it's British. The one I posted is a 1694. So? Whatcha think?

Now it's tough to tell on the pic but here's the back. Before I cleaned it a little I could just make out the form and that was before I found this pic.

Here's another sample I found:

 

[Disciple]

Beautiful! Gotta love the old one's ...

 

[Colonial KirkPA]

Yup, an ancient British coppa!

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Hmm, look like round lumps of copper to me. However so, cool finds !! 8)

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[Jim West Pa]

three hunnert 15 years...yep, dat's an oldie. Cool stuff Joe.
Under all the crusties yers looks much crisper den the pic you pulled fer comparison.

 

[BioProfessor]

Looks like it might be a "Cartwheel."

 

[incajoe]

Yup, looks like a William III copper circa late 1600's. The giveaway are the letters GV above the shoulder by the little hair ribbon. Yours is nicer than the worn out one I found earlier this year.

 

[tymcmurray]

Nice find and great research.
Congratulations.

 

[EARTHWORKS]

Joe. Thats nice!!

 

[hollowpointred]

outstanding find!! it dont get a whole lot older than that here in the states!

 

[Ridley]

Good lord, that's old!

Excellent find! I know you're smiling when you hold that in your hand!


Congratulations!




Ridley

 

[Green1]

holy smokes !! that's awesome....

 

[Iron Patch]

That is an old copper.
Isn't that one a William and Mary?

Yep, 1694 is the most common date.

 

[Goldiver]

Great find.....keep it up!

 

[CRUSADER]

I have never seen a Wiliam & Mary copper flake like that. I seen hundreds. I wonder if this might be a contemporary fake. More interesting than a normal copper.

 

[Evolution]

Awesome copper you got there Joe. That feeling you get when you realize its not a large cent....ITS A COLONIAL... is awesome isn't it? Great job!!

 

[Joe G]

I have never seen a Wiliam & Mary copper flake like that. I seen hundreds. I wonder if this might be a contemporary fake. More interesting than a normal copper.

Hundreds?? Ah, you're from across the pond where there is real history :lol: I trust your expertise but every copper I've ever dug (all 4 or 5 of them ) are as bad as this one. This coin was found in a wooded shrubbed area about 9" down. There is no human "footprint" here i.e., no trash, pulltabs, clad coins, NOTHING. So I doubt it's contemporary. A friend and I have also pulled out musket balls, colonial buttons, and a couple of large (dateable) large cents; I got what's left of a connecticut copper. Historically, this particular area goes back to the 1600's with British movement in the area. That's my only thoughts on why I think the coin is as old as it is (no matter what coin it is)

Thanks!

 

[Nickel_Buff1935]

I love borin' ol' copper!

Killer find man and thanx for sharing!

Keep diggin',

Nickel_B

 

[Iron Patch]

I have never seen a Wiliam & Mary copper flake like that. I seen hundreds. I wonder if this might be a contemporary fake. More interesting than a normal copper.

But where have you seen the hundreds? Ground conditions make a huge difference and coins I dig that are ok for the most part, are completely destroyed for a friend who is only a couple hours away.

Maybe it's counterfeit, maybe not, but I wouldn't judge it on flaking.

 

[BioProfessor]

These coins are more common than you would think in the UK. I just got back from a MD trip there and it was no big deal to find one. It is also no big deal to find them on Ebay. I bought 5 of them in pretty good shape for $6 to practice with. Most of the time, they just turn green in the soil and that is the way they "degrade." Pure copper planchets just do that. They don't have any layers to come apart or flake. When coins were counterfeited, they used pretty crude metal techniques. The metals may not have been "mixed" very well. When these coins degrade, the layers of the metal will separate. They flake from the sides inwards. Old Roman coins do the same thing. So it IS unusual for a coin of pure copper, even this old, to flake in the ground.

Daryl