Don in SJ
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This morning I hunted a site that has produced a KGI, KGII and a possible 1600's French Liard this year. I have hunted the site rather hard, but it is so thick with underbrush, greenbriars, and Holly Trees that to do any type of pattern is hard so I did my best today to try and hit the real hard spots that I hopefully did not hunt earlier this year.
Within the first ten minutes I got a nice high tone of a copper and started digging, but for anyone who has ever dug in greenbriar and Holly tree areas before will know that the ground is just full of roots, so it is imperative to have pruning shears to be able to dig the first few inches. At about 5-6 inches the copper appeared. Once I saw it, I had no idea what it was, since it was smaller and lighter than any KG coppers, so I thought possibly a KGIII counterfeit, although that would be rather new for this site, but then I also thought perhaps a James II copper. But, identity of this copper, and believe me I had to look to make sure it was not a button at first, would have to wait till I got home.
I continued hunting for another hour and half in the thick briars, getting only a few shotguns casings, and one rotten pewter button. Just before time to call it quits for the morning I got a somewhat good reading, very close to where I got my KGII this spring. Down about 6 inches the copper was brought to light, and right away I knew by the thickness, and size it was most likely a KGII. This was confirmed within a few minutes after it dried some and I put my glasses on.
When I got home, I realized the smaller coin was rather toasted but I could see a rotten outline of Brittana on the reverse side. and at first I thought it was KGIII, until I looked closely and only saw II instead of III and after careful looking, the bust was facing left and the outline match the other coin I found, so to my surprise the coin is a counterfeit KGII.
After cleaning, of which neither coin is that great, the regal KGII has a date of 1734, young head type, and the other coin is also young head type and that puts it at 1729-39 for a date, if it ever had one.
I weighed and measured both coins, now considering they were found within 100 feet or so of each other and ground conditions are the same (very acidic from all the Holly trees) that the Regal fared much better than the counterfeit, the counterfeit besides being lighter must have also been made with a less pure grade of copper.
The 1734 Regal weighed in at 135.4 grains, borderline for being a regal by weight, but diameter is 29mm.
The counterfeit weighed in at 106.4 grains, and diameter is 27mm.
Most of the counterfeit KGII's we have found are usually cast counterfeits which are closer in weight to the Regal and in size about the same, this counterfeit was more indicative of the typical KGIII Halfpenny counterfeit, so despite it being in bad shape, it does show how the regals fared better than the counterfeits, which is usually evident in the condition of the KGIII Halfpenny counterfeits.
I was really hoping for some silver from this site, the adjoining site about 100 yards away has yielded a nice one Real for me this year.
Even though they are not in great shape, I was very happy to find them after not getting any previously in the month of October, almost got skunked.
Don
Within the first ten minutes I got a nice high tone of a copper and started digging, but for anyone who has ever dug in greenbriar and Holly tree areas before will know that the ground is just full of roots, so it is imperative to have pruning shears to be able to dig the first few inches. At about 5-6 inches the copper appeared. Once I saw it, I had no idea what it was, since it was smaller and lighter than any KG coppers, so I thought possibly a KGIII counterfeit, although that would be rather new for this site, but then I also thought perhaps a James II copper. But, identity of this copper, and believe me I had to look to make sure it was not a button at first, would have to wait till I got home.
I continued hunting for another hour and half in the thick briars, getting only a few shotguns casings, and one rotten pewter button. Just before time to call it quits for the morning I got a somewhat good reading, very close to where I got my KGII this spring. Down about 6 inches the copper was brought to light, and right away I knew by the thickness, and size it was most likely a KGII. This was confirmed within a few minutes after it dried some and I put my glasses on.
When I got home, I realized the smaller coin was rather toasted but I could see a rotten outline of Brittana on the reverse side. and at first I thought it was KGIII, until I looked closely and only saw II instead of III and after careful looking, the bust was facing left and the outline match the other coin I found, so to my surprise the coin is a counterfeit KGII.
After cleaning, of which neither coin is that great, the regal KGII has a date of 1734, young head type, and the other coin is also young head type and that puts it at 1729-39 for a date, if it ever had one.
I weighed and measured both coins, now considering they were found within 100 feet or so of each other and ground conditions are the same (very acidic from all the Holly trees) that the Regal fared much better than the counterfeit, the counterfeit besides being lighter must have also been made with a less pure grade of copper.
The 1734 Regal weighed in at 135.4 grains, borderline for being a regal by weight, but diameter is 29mm.
The counterfeit weighed in at 106.4 grains, and diameter is 27mm.
Most of the counterfeit KGII's we have found are usually cast counterfeits which are closer in weight to the Regal and in size about the same, this counterfeit was more indicative of the typical KGIII Halfpenny counterfeit, so despite it being in bad shape, it does show how the regals fared better than the counterfeits, which is usually evident in the condition of the KGIII Halfpenny counterfeits.
I was really hoping for some silver from this site, the adjoining site about 100 yards away has yielded a nice one Real for me this year.
Even though they are not in great shape, I was very happy to find them after not getting any previously in the month of October, almost got skunked.
Don
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I was told by a C4 guy the copper reales are collectible, but I doubt this one is in the condition described to me....
Congrats on the oldies!
