Update on 1760 French ECU i had no idea it was used as a Early Amer. Dollar

[Deepdiger60]

Back in May of 2009 i dug this Silver 1760 French ECU from a local potato field that was just plowed i have shown it before and knew it was a French ECU with a Tulip on the obverse and a Steer on the reverse but i never had much luck finding that exact coin on any sites with both those marks there is a lot of different versions with KL XV but never both marks ,well today while just looking online at early American coinage i saw this site and low n behold there it was finally now i know i had no idea that this coin was used as a dollar back in the 1760,s in America back then it was worth about 1.10 in trade, i included the site and some pictures i took today plus pictures from the site they use a 1765 coin but its the same one finally now i can get some sleep

French Silver Ecu - Long before American GIs fought their way through the Argonne Forest in World War I and splashed ashore on the beaches of Normandy in World War II, French soldiers were helping the newly formed United States achieve a victory in the Revolutionary War. Not only did French soldiers circulate in the colonies, French coinage circulated as well. Among the most widely-accepted legal tender coins in the colonies was the French Silver Ecu. This large silver coin - it was actually worth about $1.10 - circulated in Colonial America before and after the Revolutionary War. The name Ecu means "shield," and was so-named because of the French Coat of Arms on the coin's reverse. The coins we have were struck from 1715-1791
http://www.govmint.com/item/Early_America_Silver_Dollar_Collection/1801964

 

[birdman]

awesome old silver!!!

 

[Trond]

Fantastic coins.. Beautiful......

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Nice going on the research!

 

[Iron Patch]

But what did you think it was.... a dime?

Ever heard the term "Spanish American dollar"? Well an ECU being the same era and larger I think would be a pretty good hint it would be considered a dollar.

 

[Deepdiger60]

But what did you think it was.... a dime?

Ever heard the term "Spanish American dollar"? Well an ECU being the same era and larger I think would be a pretty good hint it would be considered a dollar.

I knew the French were out here then but i never connected there coinage to being used as trade it never dawned on me lol, and no i did not think it was a dime

 

[BuckleBoy]

But what did you think it was.... a dime?

Ever heard the term "Spanish American dollar"? Well an ECU being the same era and larger I think would be a pretty good hint it would be considered a dollar.

No, but it's a good reason to repost a GREAT find. 8)

 

[Deepdiger60]

Nice going on the research!

Sometimes that's all it takes research but this time it was by chance i found that site

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

But what did you think it was.... a dime?

Ever heard the term "Spanish American dollar"? Well an ECU being the same era and larger I think would be a pretty good hint it would be considered a dollar.

No, but it's a good reason to repost a GREAT find. 8)

The only thing that we find out here that is French. are the skiers. Great re-find!
Carl

 

[ProPointer]

Sick! Awesome dig

 

[kane23]

All foriegn silver was legal tender until 1857. kane 23

 

[Deepdiger60]

All foriegn silver was legal tender until 1857. kane 23

Thanks one more bit of information for the book ,13 months ago i didn't know what a IH cent was

 

[yo6oej]

sweet find

 

[{Sentinel}]

Very Nice French Silver.

Sentinel

 

[MonkeyBoy]

All foriegn silver was legal tender until 1857. kane 23

Legal tender is a relative term, all coins that had intrinsic value were accepting based on metal content and weight... that was until the Gov't decided that a "standard" was a better way to go and could actually try to produce enough coinage to meet demand. The real reason any coin would be accepted was there was just never enough US coinage in circulation, hence Hard Times tokens and later, Civil War tokens. The US Gov't also had a bad habit of not adjusting the silver content of coins to the current market trends soo sometimes the coin would be worth more in melt value then face value and they disappeared fast. The arrows on seated coinage was one adjustment, the coins were actually worth less then face value but the US Gov't would honor them at face value, the "beginning" of fiat money, money backed by the Gov't's word not the actual value of the metal.

MB

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Just amazing what you have been finding Jim.

Great silver

 

[Deepdiger60]

Just amazing what you have been finding Jim.

Great silver

Live n learn i say nice to know what i really find ill do more research from now on Dd60

 

[KyFreeBird]

Great early silver !!!!!!!!! Just another facinating piece of early American History !!!!!!

Congradulations !!!!!