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Unidentified Strange George III Farthing

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Valued Member
Cointosser77's Avatar
United Kingdom
195 Posts
 Posted 06/15/2014  08:33 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Cointosser77 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Hi folks

I have here what appears to be a George III Farthing. But it seems more than twice as thick as a Farthing and possibly hollow inside (I wasn't able to open it).

I am tempted to use a bit of force to try to open it up to see what is inside but this will most likely destroy it.

Anyone know why it is made like that and if this is rare?

Unidentified-Strange-George-III-Farthing
Valued Member
Cointosser77's Avatar
United Kingdom
195 Posts
 Posted 06/15/2014  08:34 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Cointosser77 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
and from above:

Unidentified-Strange-George-III-Farthing
Valued Member
srcliff's Avatar
United States
453 Posts
 Posted 06/15/2014  09:51 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add srcliff to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Magicians coin? "Spy" gear? I've never seen one use that coin but I'm from the states, its usually a half dollar over here.
Valued Member
Cointosser77's Avatar
United Kingdom
195 Posts
 Posted 06/15/2014  6:56 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Cointosser77 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hah actually I managed to unscrew it without any damage, albeit it's not a screw mechanism but just a tight fit. Unfortunately apart from verdisgris there was nothing inside of it. Does make me wonder what was used to be in there, perhaps poison or drugs? secret messages? seems too small to fit any gold coins in there... if anyones interested I can make a picture now that it is opened up.
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BillSnyder's Avatar
778 Posts
 Posted 06/15/2014  7:07 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add BillSnyder to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

YES!

Let's see the two halves!
Valued Member
Cointosser77's Avatar
United Kingdom
195 Posts
 Posted 06/15/2014  7:19 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Cointosser77 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Here's the 2 halves of each side ,I think I twas just hard to open cause the corrosion/verdigris was going over the edges

Unidentified-Strange-George-III-Farthing

Unidentified-Strange-George-III-Farthing
Pillar of the Community
BillSnyder's Avatar
778 Posts
 Posted 06/18/2014  8:37 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add BillSnyder to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

I have a hollow British copper like yours, only difference is that mine was made from 1797 1d cartwheels.

(I too found nothing inside).





Unidentified-Strange-George-III-Farthing

Unidentified-Strange-George-III-Farthing



Big Grin,
Bill






Valued Member
United Kingdom
51 Posts
 Posted 06/29/2014  10:38 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add loose54 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
What an interesting coin.

The coin has been hollowed out to be used as a 'smugglers box'. They were hollowed out by contemporaries so that they could smuggle goods under the guise of it being a normal coin. These boxes are usually found on the 1797 Cartwheel pennies and more frequently the twopences because due to their large size they could hold more (the cartwheel 2D was 2 ounces so it could hold a fair amount of 'stuff'). It is much more unusual to find examples in farthings because they just aren't as practical. It is a shame that the coin isn't in a great condition but still a very good find!
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