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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,661 |
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New Member
United States
45 Posts |
Today I had an hour of light left after work so I dashed off towards the water and within minutes scored this piece. I can see 177? but have no idea what it is. I've scored colonial copper. Happy to have my first piece of the King's silver.   |
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Edited by january1may
09/04/2019 8:34 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Reasonably common for an 18th century silver coin.
Can be found in dealers' $5 junk boxes in this condition.
That is how I acquired mine.
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New Member
 United States
45 Posts |
Interesting that it ended up in in a swamp in East Hampton.
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
IIRC, Spanish colonial silver coins were very common and very popular in the early USA - aided by the relative lack of small denominations of US currency (IIRC, by the 1810s not enough dimes had been minted yet for each US citizen to have one, and the Half Dimes were even rarer). This particular coin probably circulated for several decades before being lost. It does not surprise me at all that it ended up in New York. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
It seems that this coin may have seen heavy circulation in North America, until when dimes were in common circulation.
That may help explain the location of where it was found.
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New Member
United States
45 Posts |
Yes, my area played an important part in triangle trade, supplying oak barrel staves and foodstuffs (cattle) while getting rum back. Also some slave dealings. And the eastern seaboard had a strong maritime culture.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
Nice find!  In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Valued Member
United States
265 Posts |
A buddy of mine just found a half Reale about a month ago. These coins, as well as the British King George coppers, are very possible to dig in the US for the reasons mentioned. I dig the King Georges once in a while, but almost never Reales. the only Reales I've dug have either had a hole in it, or was worn almost completely smooth.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
Interesting that it ended up in in a swamp in East Hampton. Not too surprising, the colonies were not permitted to make their own coins and the British banned the exportation of silver and gold coins. So the colonists used whatever they could get their hands on. For copper that was mostly british half pence and farthings, nuch of which were lightweight counterfeits, and the vast majority of the gold and silver were of Spanish colonial origin, mostly from Mexico such as the OP coin. There was a smattering of other gold and silver coin, but there was a chronic shortage because most imported goods, and there were a lot of imports, has to be paid for in gold and silver. Another reaso you are unlikely to find British silver is because during most of the reign of George III the only silver coins produced was a rather modest coinage of 1787 six pence and shillings. |
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Moderator
 United States
188001 Posts |
Nice find! |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,661 |
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Posted 09/04/2019 8:19 pm
