Very Interesting Token

[paleomaxx]

I found this token today and it looks very intriguing, but I haven't been able to identify it yet. It was in a yard near the center of a town which dates back to the 1750's. The ground is very rocky so all copper coins I've dug here have been in a great state of preservation and this is no exception.

Both sides are stamped with the same block of lettering and a saw-tooth pattern around the border.



On one side the block is towards the top and on the other it's set in the middle, but it looks like it was struck twice because one side is lower than the other. The lettering is relatively clear, but it doesn't make much sense. I could be wrong, but I'm reading it as "C: Fince" which doesn't pull up anything online. The size is exactly that of a 1700's half-penny. Am I getting the letters wrong? Has anyone seen this token or one in the same style?

 

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[nhbenz]

It reminds me of an Albany church penny which they had there in NY ...only similar, but maybe somehow related?
I’m probably being over-optimistic, like the guy who wrote this article: http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n40a11.html

 

[grasshopper]

Maybe it's not a token and just a counterstamped copper

Could it be FINCH and not FINCE? Might make more sense.

 

[paleomaxx]

It reminds me of an Albany church penny which they had there in NY ...only similar, but maybe somehow related?

This was found within 30 miles of Albany NY. It's definitely not a match, but the font of the block letters in the middle and the patterned border of the punches have more than a passing similarity. Perhaps another local church fashioned their own token/s for similar use.

 

[paleomaxx]

Maybe it's not a token and just a counterstamped copper

Could it be FINCH and not FINCE? Might make more sense.

Finch would definitely make more sense. The last letter is weak on both stamps so I'm not 100% on the letter being an "E".

It could be a re-purposed state or British copper, but if so they intentionally smoothed it since the surface is even with no trace of a latent design even under different lighting.

 

[Hawks88]

Very interesting find. Can’t wait to see it cleaned up and identified. Thanks for the story and photo. Congrats.

 

[claypile]

thats very unique tho.

 

[nhbenz]

Here is another example, also out of NY (Schenectady county) which was never positively identified, except that Kerk is Dutch for “church”.

 

[DCMatt]

It reminds me of an Albany church penny which they had there in NY ...only similar, but maybe somehow related?
I’m probably being over-optimistic, like the guy who wrote this article: QUERY: A COLONIAL COUNTERSTAMP MYSTERY

I think communion token is a good starting point. Of course, we need the name of the town where the token was found.



These are from New Boston, NH. No specific date I could find - simply listed as 19th C.

 

[DownNDirty]

Finch would definitely make more sense. The last letter is weak on both stamps so I'm not 100% on the letter being an "E".

It could be a re-purposed state or British copper, but if so they intentionally smoothed it since the surface is even with no trace of a latent design even under different lighting.

Not necessarily. The counter stamp could have had a higher relief than the coin, or the coin might have been worn fairly well when it was counter stamped. Either scenario could have resulted in the counter stamp being somewhat legible while the original coin surface is blank.

 

[paleomaxx]

Not necessarily. The counter stamp could have had a higher relief than the coin, or the coin might have been worn fairly well when it was counter stamped. Either scenario could have resulted in the counter stamp being somewhat legible while the original coin surface is blank.

I was reading up on the history of the Albany Church token and it sounded like instead of smoothing them themselves, they just intentionally used copper coins that were already worn slick or almost slick to use as the planchettes. Makes sense since I'm sure slicks were plentiful and it was much more economical that way.

 

[paleomaxx]

I think communion token is a good starting point. Of course, we need the name of the town where the token was found.

Well the town is Chatham, so that certainly could correspond to the "C." However the town was also a crossroads and is noted for a tremendous amount of travelers; particularly in the late 18th century. Lots of Dutch influence in the area, particularly during the early years, and it had a number of prominent churches. Did certain denominations of churches use these token in particular? That might help narrow the search.

 

[CRUSADER]

Definitely a counter-stamped blank/worn copper coin.

 

[nhbenz]

Reading a bit about communion tokens, noted that there were ones in England called a “communion half-pence”, which makes me think the word on this one may be Pence?

 

[CRUSADER]

Reading a bit about communion tokens, noted that there were ones in England called a “communion half-pence”, which makes me think the word on this one may be Pence?

I don't think so, its normally the persons name or company name. Do a little more research on counter-stamped halfpennies. I have a book on these but I don't think this will be in it.

 

[paleomaxx]

Reading a bit about communion tokens, noted that there were ones in England called a “communion half-pence”, which makes me think the word on this one may be Pence?

I agree that "Pence" could be there. The "F" isn't very strongly stamped and could very well be a "P" and the tip faded making it resemble an "F." Unfortunately I really don't dare clean the token further and risk damaging it or losing the definition it has now.

On the reverse the first letter is almost missing, but the second letter is stronger on that side and the three bars of an "E" could be there. Maybe I'm just reaching, but it fits.

 

[paleomaxx]

I don't think so, its normally the persons name or company name. Do a little more research on counter-stamped halfpennies. I have a book on these but I don't think this will be in it.

I have been delving into the town history and it may be no coincidence that there is a Finch Street right here in the center of town. I can't find any mention of a church ever having been on the street, but it looks like the street was named after the Finch family that were present at the first settlement of the town and their descendants remained for several generations.

 

[CRUSADER]

Complete List of Merchant Countermarked, Counterstamped Coins: A-C

email this guy

 

[DCMatt]

Here is a similar type of counter-stamp on a 1775 British half penny (not a communion token):



Can you give the size and weight of your token? Maybe we can narrow down the research...

 

[DCMatt]

And another - 1861 British Penny: