FINDING COINS can be very rewarding
WHEN YOU FIND A COIN
There's always the chance that it's rare!
When you are rubbing the mud off the old coin you detected and have just dug up, part of the fun & intrigue is to imagine that what you have in your hand is a rare & sought after treasure, especially if it is a pre decimal coin. But the reality is before the introduction of the metric system in Australia 2.4 billion Australian pre decimal coins were made over a 54 year period from 1910 to 1964.
Thousands more metric coins have been produced since then.
There are also foreign coins, including coins from shipwreck treasure.
There are also foreign coins, including coins from shipwreck treasure.
NEWS: 12th January 2024
Thank you to Helen Garraway and a very special hello to Anna :-)
Thank you to Helen Garraway and a very special hello to Anna :-)
Good Evening Mr. Woodmore,
As a youth services librarian, I would just like to reach out with a quick word of thanks! Your resource links list has been a big help to me while I've been running a fun educational project on numismatics, coin collecting and coin history for a small group of students over the last few months. We were even able to use some of this information for our most recent group project - thank you very much for sharing with us! oztreasure.weebly.com/finding-coins.html
I hope you don't mind, one of our youngest, Anna has also asked me if I could share a piece that she and her father found together which we've begun referencing as a group on a History of U.S. Circulating Coins and the Mint Act. I've included it below if you'd like to review!
We noticed you didn't have this one listed, but Anna was actually the one to bring up that this could be something you might like to include for any other young coin collecting enthusiasts who may also be coming across your information and have an interest in learning more about coin history during their down time, like our group!
If you find you are able to use this one, would you please let me know? We're meeting Saturday afternoon after a brief holiday break, and I would absolutely love to surprise Anna and the group if you're able to do so - I'm hoping it would make her proud to know she was able to pay it forward and maybe even show her father their contribution if it ends up being included!
Thanks again for all your help here Rex,
Helen Garraway
https://brite.co/education/a-history-of-u-s-circulating-coins-and-the-mint-act/
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As a youth services librarian, I would just like to reach out with a quick word of thanks! Your resource links list has been a big help to me while I've been running a fun educational project on numismatics, coin collecting and coin history for a small group of students over the last few months. We were even able to use some of this information for our most recent group project - thank you very much for sharing with us! oztreasure.weebly.com/finding-coins.html
I hope you don't mind, one of our youngest, Anna has also asked me if I could share a piece that she and her father found together which we've begun referencing as a group on a History of U.S. Circulating Coins and the Mint Act. I've included it below if you'd like to review!
We noticed you didn't have this one listed, but Anna was actually the one to bring up that this could be something you might like to include for any other young coin collecting enthusiasts who may also be coming across your information and have an interest in learning more about coin history during their down time, like our group!
If you find you are able to use this one, would you please let me know? We're meeting Saturday afternoon after a brief holiday break, and I would absolutely love to surprise Anna and the group if you're able to do so - I'm hoping it would make her proud to know she was able to pay it forward and maybe even show her father their contribution if it ends up being included!
Thanks again for all your help here Rex,
Helen Garraway
https://brite.co/education/a-history-of-u-s-circulating-coins-and-the-mint-act/
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January 2024
I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME FOR COIN HUNTING.
I have been working on my invention - HoseOut *
*Patent Pending. Available for Licensing.
NEWS: 24th March 2022
How strangely familiar emails can be (?)
I received this one today:
(Compare it to the one underneath from 16th February 2021
HI Rex!
I hope you're well! My name is Lily and my son, Zach is a Boy Scout and is in the process of earning his Coin Collecting badge! I wanted to reach out to you because the coin sites on the OZTreasure - Finding Coins page were really helpful!
Zach is absolutely loving learning about coin collecting and thinks he might even join a club in the near future! He actually asked me to sit down with him over this past weekend to find some more coin resources – his grandpa has been a long time coin collector so I love that he's developing an interest for this! It's been great to see them bond over it. :) The club leader always encourages us to find extra resources at home so I'm so glad Zach found something he's really passionate and excited about.
Thank you again for taking the time to put the Finding Coins page together. Zach was adamant that we send you a warm thank you. He also was eager to share one of the coin resources we found together: https://www.smbcompass.com/coin-collecting-a-beginners-resource-guide/
Do you think this could be something you could add to the Finding Coins page http://oztreasure.weebly.com/finding-coins.html
I know this is something he would LOVE to show his troop leader. I know recognition from someone else would absolutely make his day too. Ultimately, we hope this can be helpful to other scouts and their families! It would put a big smile on his face knowing he could possibly help spark a passion for others.
Let me know what you think! He has a troop meeting Thursday evening… it would be awesome if you could add it by then. :)
Thanks a bunch for your help and have a great rest of the week!
Lily S.
How strangely familiar emails can be (?)
I received this one today:
(Compare it to the one underneath from 16th February 2021
HI Rex!
I hope you're well! My name is Lily and my son, Zach is a Boy Scout and is in the process of earning his Coin Collecting badge! I wanted to reach out to you because the coin sites on the OZTreasure - Finding Coins page were really helpful!
Zach is absolutely loving learning about coin collecting and thinks he might even join a club in the near future! He actually asked me to sit down with him over this past weekend to find some more coin resources – his grandpa has been a long time coin collector so I love that he's developing an interest for this! It's been great to see them bond over it. :) The club leader always encourages us to find extra resources at home so I'm so glad Zach found something he's really passionate and excited about.
Thank you again for taking the time to put the Finding Coins page together. Zach was adamant that we send you a warm thank you. He also was eager to share one of the coin resources we found together: https://www.smbcompass.com/coin-collecting-a-beginners-resource-guide/
Do you think this could be something you could add to the Finding Coins page http://oztreasure.weebly.com/finding-coins.html
I know this is something he would LOVE to show his troop leader. I know recognition from someone else would absolutely make his day too. Ultimately, we hope this can be helpful to other scouts and their families! It would put a big smile on his face knowing he could possibly help spark a passion for others.
Let me know what you think! He has a troop meeting Thursday evening… it would be awesome if you could add it by then. :)
Thanks a bunch for your help and have a great rest of the week!
Lily S.
AS A MATTER OF FACT
The article on coin collecting for beinners is excellent.
From a Book by Matthew Gray
Here's what you can find inside:
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NEWS: 16th FEBRUARY 2021
I received this uplifting email:
Hi there Rex,
I don't want to be a bother! I just wanted to get in touch real quick. I thought you might appreciate hearing that your references from your website, "OzTreasure", have been getting a lot of use by my youngest daughter, Dakota. (I know it takes a lot of work to build a website and thought you'd enjoy some feedback from a couple web visitors!)
Dakota has been really into coins lately. She's been collecting all her change and analyzing them. (She's even been doing a lot of online research herself..and that's how we came across your site.) I've actually never seen her so interested! She's always been a collector of things..but it doesn't last all that long. It kind of fizzles out. I think she's got a new found passion and hobby...and I think that's wonderful. :)
I also wanted to pass along a resource that she discovered. It's a wonderful article - "Coin Collecting for the Novice" - https://www.transferly.com/coin-collecting-for-the-novice/ It's the perfect article for her as she really wants to start collecting! Would it be okay to add the resource she discovered to your "Finding Coins" page under "List of Interesting Coin Websites", https://oztreasure.weebly.com/finding-coins.html
I love to support and encourage her any way I can. :)
Thank you for your time...wishing you a healthy and safe 2021!
Warmly,
LouAnne
I received this uplifting email:
Hi there Rex,
I don't want to be a bother! I just wanted to get in touch real quick. I thought you might appreciate hearing that your references from your website, "OzTreasure", have been getting a lot of use by my youngest daughter, Dakota. (I know it takes a lot of work to build a website and thought you'd enjoy some feedback from a couple web visitors!)
Dakota has been really into coins lately. She's been collecting all her change and analyzing them. (She's even been doing a lot of online research herself..and that's how we came across your site.) I've actually never seen her so interested! She's always been a collector of things..but it doesn't last all that long. It kind of fizzles out. I think she's got a new found passion and hobby...and I think that's wonderful. :)
I also wanted to pass along a resource that she discovered. It's a wonderful article - "Coin Collecting for the Novice" - https://www.transferly.com/coin-collecting-for-the-novice/ It's the perfect article for her as she really wants to start collecting! Would it be okay to add the resource she discovered to your "Finding Coins" page under "List of Interesting Coin Websites", https://oztreasure.weebly.com/finding-coins.html
I love to support and encourage her any way I can. :)
Thank you for your time...wishing you a healthy and safe 2021!
Warmly,
LouAnne
AUSTRALIAN SILVER COINS
Australian silver coins 1910 and 1945 are 92.50% silver.
Australian silver coins 1946 to 1964 are 50.00% silver.
The round fifty cents was minted for only one year and the new unique angular shaped cupro nickel 50c coin was not issued until 1969.
WHAT’S YOUR COIN WORTH AS SCRAP?
Calculate the Melt Value?
Australian pre-decimal silver coins 1910 and 1945 are 92.5% pure silver (which is sterling silver). Later dates contain 50% silver.
Australian Coin Silver Content Calculator to find the melt value.
https://www.australian-coins.com/silver-calculator/australian-silver-coin-values
(Make sure you click the currency that you want it converted into)
https://www.australian-coins.com/silver-calculator/australian-silver-coin-values
(Make sure you click the currency that you want it converted into)
METAL DETECTED COINS
By the handfull!
PERTH to EXMOUTH Western Australia 2017
"Happy wife-Happy life!"
On the way to Exmouth:
We dropped into Coral Bay for a coffee break my wife said: "I'll make the coffee while you find coins to buy the newspaper!"...So I did! But the plane that delivered the Newspapers from Perth (1132 Km away) had not yet arrived. But no problems because even before my coffee was ready I had found $5.20 and Lyn was able to buy a book instead of the paper.
We dropped into Coral Bay for a coffee break my wife said: "I'll make the coffee while you find coins to buy the newspaper!"...So I did! But the plane that delivered the Newspapers from Perth (1132 Km away) had not yet arrived. But no problems because even before my coffee was ready I had found $5.20 and Lyn was able to buy a book instead of the paper.
STORMS UNCOVER THOUSANDS OF GOLD COINS
The largest ever hoard of eleventh century treasure.
SADLY, IT WASN'T ME THAT FOUND THEM
The 2000 coins from the eleventh century are the largest hoard of gold coins discovered in Israel. The treasure was discovered by members of a dive club, in the ancient harbor within Caesarea National Park.
At first they thought the coins were kid’s play things but they turned out to be the real thing. |
The Marine Archaeology Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority were contacted and they sent their divers with metal detectors to the site. Together with the original group of divers, they discovered almost 2,000 gold coins in different denominations: a dinar, half dinar and quarter dinar, of various dimensions and weight.
The discovery of such a large hoard of coins indicates the likelihood of their being the wreck nearby. Possibly a merchant ship with gold coins as trade.
The coins are in amazing condition after being buried in shifting sand for a couple of thousand years. |
The coins, despite being at the bottom of the sea for some a thousand years, were in excellent condition and did not need cleaning. This is because they were in relatively clean sand and gold is not affected by air or water.
In Israel all antiquities belong to the State. Removing treasures from their location, or selling or trading them is punishable by up to five years imprisonment.
In Israel all antiquities belong to the State. Removing treasures from their location, or selling or trading them is punishable by up to five years imprisonment.
A SCHOOL LUNCH for HEALTH & WEALTH
“The most famous error coin in US numismatics”
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At 16 years old Don Lutes Jr. was interested in coins. At school in 1947 he bought a school lunch and when he was given his change, he realized than the 1943 Lincoln one-cent coin in his hand was unlike any other 1943 penny. It should have been zinc-coated steel, but this one was copper. He reported it to the U.S. Treasury Department, and was told there was no such thing. “Copper was needed for the war effort so no copper pennies were made in 1943” Over the next ten years, as the odd coin lay in his collection, he heard rumours of other 1943 copper pennies being found but the ‘experts’ claimed they were fakes. But in 1958, one of these ‘freak’ pennies sold for $40,000 (the equivalent of $350,000 today).
Don Lutes penny was then recognised as one of about 15 known to exist that were accidentally pressed in 1943. What happened was that in 1942, at the end of the last production run, a few copper alloy blanks remained in the bins of the coin presses, so when they began production of the 1943 coins a bunch of ‘error coins’ were produced and a few went into circulation. Sadly Mr. Lutes died in September 2018 (after waiting 72 years to see what his coin was really worth) only a few months before his coin was sold for $204,000. (There were some false reports that it fetched over a $million) He left the money to the Public Library in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. |
HE SAVED EVERY PENNY HE FOUND
45 Years of saving pennies.
When he cashed them in, the total was incredible.
(But he didn't check for rare coins!!)
45 Years of saving pennies.
When he cashed them in, the total was incredible.
(But he didn't check for rare coins!!)
TREASURE ON THE ISLAND
A rare Pine Tree Shilling
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Settled in 1642 it was not unusual to find interesting historic items. A local carpenter and his friend had previously found interesting things and old coins on the Island. Their finds included silver shoe buckles, axe heads, bullets, a silver button, an 1867 two-cent piece and a 1687 Irish half penny and Spanish reals dating back to the late 18th century.
On this particular day the carpenter was detecting Town beach and finding a few modern coins when he found the oldest coin known on the island, a 1652 pine tree shilling. This coin was among the first to be minted in colonial Massachusetts. (June 10, 1652- In Massachusetts, silversmith John Hull opened the first mint in America in defiance of English colonial law. The first coin issued and designed by him was the Pine Tree Shilling). In excellent condition one was auctioned a few years ago for $285,000.
Sadly the latest find was in very poor condition but still worth $400 to $600.
He’s been offered and refused $2,000 for the coin.
On this particular day the carpenter was detecting Town beach and finding a few modern coins when he found the oldest coin known on the island, a 1652 pine tree shilling. This coin was among the first to be minted in colonial Massachusetts. (June 10, 1652- In Massachusetts, silversmith John Hull opened the first mint in America in defiance of English colonial law. The first coin issued and designed by him was the Pine Tree Shilling). In excellent condition one was auctioned a few years ago for $285,000.
Sadly the latest find was in very poor condition but still worth $400 to $600.
He’s been offered and refused $2,000 for the coin.
WHERE DO COINS COME FROM?
When I find them they have usually fallen from someones pocket!
Here in Australia our coins come from the Australian Royal Mint Canberra.
According to the mint they have to issue 255 million new coins annually, to replace $110 million Australian dollars of coins that have been lost, perhaps on beaches, gardens and parks, disappeared into sofas and lounge chairs or have joined millions of coins in coin collections or stored in drawers and forgotten about.
According to the mint they have to issue 255 million new coins annually, to replace $110 million Australian dollars of coins that have been lost, perhaps on beaches, gardens and parks, disappeared into sofas and lounge chairs or have joined millions of coins in coin collections or stored in drawers and forgotten about.
FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE LOST & FOUND COINS
#Pennies, #Florins, Shilling, Pennies, Farthings, #Round50C
#DecimalCoins, #FiftyCent, #PreDecimalCoins, #Coins, #ShipwreckCoins, #CuproNickel, #CopperCoins, #RomanCoins, #FoundCoins, #GoldCoins,
#DecimalCoins, #FiftyCent, #PreDecimalCoins, #Coins, #ShipwreckCoins, #CuproNickel, #CopperCoins, #RomanCoins, #FoundCoins, #GoldCoins,
MARCHINBAR ISLAND COINS
1000 year old coins on a Queensland Island
In 1944-45 during World War II, Morry Isenberg a RAAF Radar operator was stationed on Marchinbar Island to man the radar. On the beach while fishing he found some copper coins in the sand. Isenberg marked an old map with an ‘X’ to record the original location and included it in a tin with the coins. It wasn’t until 1979 that Dr Bill Mira identified four of them as around 1000 years old from the former Kilwa sultanate, East Africa.
The 4 African copper coins dated at:
1480-1482, 1294-1308, 1480-1482, 1294-1308. Most reports of this find fail to mention that as well as the African coins there were five Dutch coins with dates of: 1724, 1744, 1745, 1784 (One was a VOC coin) So we could be looking at coins being taken to or washed up on the Island after 1784. |
In 1983 Isenberg donated all of the coins to the Sydney Power House Museum and in November of the same year the Curator of Numismatics from Sydney Mint Museum gave a written valuation of $5,000 and the coins were set up in a special display that was viewed by 180,000 visitors…. Until…. in 1988 a valuer for the Commonwealth Government's Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme said "The provenance has only been established on hearsay." and the display was taken down when he valued the African coins at $25-$50 each and the Dutch coins at only $5-$10each! The coins haven't been on display since then.
Today they are wrapped and stored in the basement of the Powerhouse Museum.
Today they are wrapped and stored in the basement of the Powerhouse Museum.
VOLUNTEER FINDS A HORDE OF GOLD COINS
Sadly, doesn't get to keep it!
It is said the horde of 264 coins is one of the largest coin hoards ever discovered in Jerusalem and definitely the most important of its period," The coins were discovered during a dig just below the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The coins’ finder was glad she didn’t throw them in the rubbish bucket and said "It’s a pity I can't take them home with me. But there you go."
The coins’ finder was glad she didn’t throw them in the rubbish bucket and said "It’s a pity I can't take them home with me. But there you go."
ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE
ALL SORTS OF COINS
HUGE STASH OF COINS
FOUND IN SPAIN
In the southern town of Tomares outside Seville in Spain. While excavating a metre deep trench to lay pipes in a park, the workers uncovered a stash of 19 clay amphora (pots), 10 of which were said to be intact, containing thousands of bronze and silver-coated Roman coins, dating from the end of the fourth century. Culture officials at the Seville Archaeological Museum say it is a unique historic discovery. The coins look in uncirculated condition and might have been stored to pay soldiers or civil servants.
The coins of incalculable value, studied so far bear images of emperors Constantine and Maximian, with a variety of pictures on the reverse.
It seems it may be one of the most important finds from the period, anywhere in the world. Needless to say that construction work in the park was halted and the site has become an archaeological dig.
The Romans began to conquer Spain in 218 B.C. and ruled until the fifth century but this find was a first. The museum said that they had no similar coins in their collection and on completion of investigations they will be put on public display.
The coins of incalculable value, studied so far bear images of emperors Constantine and Maximian, with a variety of pictures on the reverse.
It seems it may be one of the most important finds from the period, anywhere in the world. Needless to say that construction work in the park was halted and the site has become an archaeological dig.
The Romans began to conquer Spain in 218 B.C. and ruled until the fifth century but this find was a first. The museum said that they had no similar coins in their collection and on completion of investigations they will be put on public display.
BURIED GOLD SOVEREIGNS
Found in Albany, Western Australia
Construction workers in Albany unearthed gold sovereigns buried only a few inches under slabs of tarmac at the site of the Freemasons Hotel. The coins are valued at over $130,000.
The first of the coins was found by a 19-year-old as he worked on the site. He was quickly joined by his workmates with an exciting find, amongst the rubble, of about 300 more solid gold coins .
One theory that may explain why a large amount of coins were buried at the site is that in the 1880's the British were close to declaring war on Russia and Russian ships were known to have been sent to take depth soundings and photographs of Albany's port.
The first of the coins was found by a 19-year-old as he worked on the site. He was quickly joined by his workmates with an exciting find, amongst the rubble, of about 300 more solid gold coins .
One theory that may explain why a large amount of coins were buried at the site is that in the 1880's the British were close to declaring war on Russia and Russian ships were known to have been sent to take depth soundings and photographs of Albany's port.
The townspeople were scared of an attack by the Russians so the banks in Albany, which were located very close to the site of the found treasure, packed up 3,000 sovereigns and sent them to Perth for safe keeping.
There is the possibility that some of this money was ‘lost’ while being packed or during the journey.
Another theory is that the coins are the ones stolen in 1842 from South Coast whaler and sealer John Williams. The money was never recovered, so there's a chance the money found in the car park belonged to Williams. However, this theft was reported as 250 gold sovereigns and a large amount of silver.
A local businessman, the owner of the site where the sovereigns were found, won't show the gold to anyone & has also made it clear he does not want people on his land. When news of the discovery was realised he employed a security company to patrol fences erected around the site.
A Professor of law says he knows of no law that governs historical finds on private property and he doesn't believe the landowner is breaking any laws by holding on to the find. The gold coins were discovered in the land, buried in the soil and in that case the law indicates the owner of the land is the owner of the discovery.
There is the possibility that some of this money was ‘lost’ while being packed or during the journey.
Another theory is that the coins are the ones stolen in 1842 from South Coast whaler and sealer John Williams. The money was never recovered, so there's a chance the money found in the car park belonged to Williams. However, this theft was reported as 250 gold sovereigns and a large amount of silver.
A local businessman, the owner of the site where the sovereigns were found, won't show the gold to anyone & has also made it clear he does not want people on his land. When news of the discovery was realised he employed a security company to patrol fences erected around the site.
A Professor of law says he knows of no law that governs historical finds on private property and he doesn't believe the landowner is breaking any laws by holding on to the find. The gold coins were discovered in the land, buried in the soil and in that case the law indicates the owner of the land is the owner of the discovery.
THOUSAND YEAR OLD COINS
Northern Territory Treasure Islands
1000 YEAR OLD COINS
It was 1944, off the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory and in the days before modern metal detectors. An Australian soldier stationed on the uninhabited group of islands called Wessel Islands, found five ancient African copper coins believed to be about 1000 years old.
It was 1944, off the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory and in the days before modern metal detectors. An Australian soldier stationed on the uninhabited group of islands called Wessel Islands, found five ancient African copper coins believed to be about 1000 years old.
The five coins are believed to have originated from Kilwa (now an African World Heritage site on a Tanzanian island) which was, in the 13th to 16th century, a flourishing trade port which dealt in Precious metals, Gems, Ceramics, Porcelain & Stoneware.
The coins date back to the 900s to 1300s. An investigation into the mystery was recently being conducted by a group of U.S. and Australian scientists, together with the valuable assistance of Aboriginal rangers.
The coins date back to the 900s to 1300s. An investigation into the mystery was recently being conducted by a group of U.S. and Australian scientists, together with the valuable assistance of Aboriginal rangers.
This is only the third time that this type of coin has been discovered outside of Africa. They are examples of the first coins ever produced in sub-Saharan Africa.
Optimistic treasure hunters and open minded Archaeologists have long hoped for evidence of ancient trading routes that linked East Africa, Arabia, India and the Spice Islands to the coast of Australia.
It is easy to jump to the conclusion (as many have) that the coins had been on the island for almost 1000 years, but the fact is that they were found in 1944 and the reality is that they could have been dropped there in the same year.
Originally, in true optimistic treasure hunter style, I put negativity to one side and hoped that the discovery was evidence of seafarers from distant lands having visited our shores long before our current known recorded history.
Optimistic treasure hunters and open minded Archaeologists have long hoped for evidence of ancient trading routes that linked East Africa, Arabia, India and the Spice Islands to the coast of Australia.
It is easy to jump to the conclusion (as many have) that the coins had been on the island for almost 1000 years, but the fact is that they were found in 1944 and the reality is that they could have been dropped there in the same year.
Originally, in true optimistic treasure hunter style, I put negativity to one side and hoped that the discovery was evidence of seafarers from distant lands having visited our shores long before our current known recorded history.
However, what most reports on this find are slow in mentioning is, at the same time as this amazing discovery, the soldier also found, together with the African coins, a coin dated 1690 and three others. I read as being VOC coins. I don't know their date, but if they were marked with VOC, then I don't think they can be older than 1726 (?).
So this seems to me to indicate the coins got there no earlier than 1690 but could have been dropped there as late as in 1940. But still an optimist, I changed the direction of my thoughts and transferred my enthusiasm to the possibility of yet another Dutch East Company (VOC) Shipwreck on the Australian coast.
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Between 1602 and 1796 the VOC had 4,785 ships involved in the Asia trade.
Several ships were lost. Between 1694 and 1727, on voyages from Cape Town to Batavia, three VOC ships, vanished and have not been found. The undiscovered treasure ships are: The Ridderschap van Holland, Fortuin & Aagtekerke. (If we assume the cannon and other items found by Hugh Edwards in the Abrolhos Islands, is from the wreck of the Aagtekerke, then we can rule it out of our list.)
The Ridderschap van Holland, vanished in 1694 on a voyage from Cape Town to Batavia. Willem de Vlamingh searched unsuccessfully for her on the Western Australian coast. Then there were rumours that pirates near Madagascar had seized her. But in 1699 two ships visiting Madagascar were unsuccessful in their attempt at establishing the fate of the ship, her crew & cargo.
The Fortuin vanished in a similar fashion to The Ridderschap van Holland.
So I guess, both of these ships are contenders for undiscovered shipwrecks on the reefs of the Wessel Islands.
Several ships were lost. Between 1694 and 1727, on voyages from Cape Town to Batavia, three VOC ships, vanished and have not been found. The undiscovered treasure ships are: The Ridderschap van Holland, Fortuin & Aagtekerke. (If we assume the cannon and other items found by Hugh Edwards in the Abrolhos Islands, is from the wreck of the Aagtekerke, then we can rule it out of our list.)
The Ridderschap van Holland, vanished in 1694 on a voyage from Cape Town to Batavia. Willem de Vlamingh searched unsuccessfully for her on the Western Australian coast. Then there were rumours that pirates near Madagascar had seized her. But in 1699 two ships visiting Madagascar were unsuccessful in their attempt at establishing the fate of the ship, her crew & cargo.
The Fortuin vanished in a similar fashion to The Ridderschap van Holland.
So I guess, both of these ships are contenders for undiscovered shipwrecks on the reefs of the Wessel Islands.
Further good news for treasure hunters:
No matter how the coins got there or when they were dropped or buried and by whom, we do know that the traditional landowners (the Australian Aboriginals) were already on the Wessel islands or at least visiting them and these people have stories passed down through the ages, of doubloons and weapons hidden in a secret cave, near the beach where the coins were discovered.
Perhaps it is a genuine Pirate treasure???
No matter how the coins got there or when they were dropped or buried and by whom, we do know that the traditional landowners (the Australian Aboriginals) were already on the Wessel islands or at least visiting them and these people have stories passed down through the ages, of doubloons and weapons hidden in a secret cave, near the beach where the coins were discovered.
Perhaps it is a genuine Pirate treasure???
Since the introduction of decimal currency in 1966 most pre decimal coins have been melted down. There are still plenty of them yet to be found, but unless a pre-decimal coin is one of the rare dates or is in a very fine condition, it will be worth little more than scrap value.
AUSTRALIA'S FIRST MINTED COIN 1910
When Australian coins were first minted in 1910, Australia adopted the British sterling silver (92.5%) standard for its coinage. In 1946 the silver content was cut to 50%. Pre decimal Australian silver coins continued with 50% silver until 1964.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S FIRST COIN?
See the video showing a coin from the Batavia shipwreck
THE HOLY DOLLAR
Unique Australian Coin
The Holy Dollar
Unique Australian Coin
In the first years of European settlement, Australia’s economy was based on English coins.
The necessity of money for everyday transactions created a great demand for coins.
(1810-1811).The governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie, felt it would be better to source coins from other places.
He approached India, the East India Company had enough financial power to help him.
He asked for 10000 pounds for New South Wales. But the East India Company wasn't able to provide pounds but they could supply the 8 reals Spanish silver thaler (tolar or dollar). This Spanish dollar (The Piece of Eight of pirate legends) was used extensively in the region. The Philippines mint produced high quality pieces and had large stocks available.
26th of November 1812, a ship from Madras delivered 40,000 Spanish silver coins to Australia.
In Australia the piece of eight (Spanish 8 real) was the same value as a 5 shilling coin or the crown (1/4 of a pound). Macquarie decided that a circulation of these coins, as they are, in the region will cause a problem.
To make them different from the Spanish coin it was given a central hole that cut out the Spanish coat of arms and king’s head. The hole was made with a special tool.
The edges of the hole were embossed with the words
“NEW SOUTH WALES- 1813/5 SHILLINGS.
The Spanish coins brought here were produced from 1782-1810 in various mints from the Spanish colonies (Mexico, Bolivia, Peru) and Spain. The original 8 reals was the equivalent of 5 British shillings.
With 25% less silver content (the holes…) the coin was not accepted as legal tender anywhere other than Australia so it stayed here in circulation instead of being exported.
The silver ‘holes’ called ‘Dumps’ with a value of 15 pence, or 1 ¼ shilling, became useful in small transactions. It was minted on one side with a crown and the legend NEW SOUTH WALES 1813 and on the other side FIFTEEN/PENCE. The coin circulation problem was solved and used until 1822.when they were replaced, once again, with British coins.
It is estimated that today only 350 Holey dollars and around 1500 ‘Holes’ can be found by collectors and are worth thousands of dollars. Very rare ones can go for as much as $16,000. These coins are of great historic value. These are the first Australian coins, minted (or should we say re-minted) at the first Australian mint.
The necessity of money for everyday transactions created a great demand for coins.
(1810-1811).The governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie, felt it would be better to source coins from other places.
He approached India, the East India Company had enough financial power to help him.
He asked for 10000 pounds for New South Wales. But the East India Company wasn't able to provide pounds but they could supply the 8 reals Spanish silver thaler (tolar or dollar). This Spanish dollar (The Piece of Eight of pirate legends) was used extensively in the region. The Philippines mint produced high quality pieces and had large stocks available.
26th of November 1812, a ship from Madras delivered 40,000 Spanish silver coins to Australia.
In Australia the piece of eight (Spanish 8 real) was the same value as a 5 shilling coin or the crown (1/4 of a pound). Macquarie decided that a circulation of these coins, as they are, in the region will cause a problem.
To make them different from the Spanish coin it was given a central hole that cut out the Spanish coat of arms and king’s head. The hole was made with a special tool.
The edges of the hole were embossed with the words
“NEW SOUTH WALES- 1813/5 SHILLINGS.
The Spanish coins brought here were produced from 1782-1810 in various mints from the Spanish colonies (Mexico, Bolivia, Peru) and Spain. The original 8 reals was the equivalent of 5 British shillings.
With 25% less silver content (the holes…) the coin was not accepted as legal tender anywhere other than Australia so it stayed here in circulation instead of being exported.
The silver ‘holes’ called ‘Dumps’ with a value of 15 pence, or 1 ¼ shilling, became useful in small transactions. It was minted on one side with a crown and the legend NEW SOUTH WALES 1813 and on the other side FIFTEEN/PENCE. The coin circulation problem was solved and used until 1822.when they were replaced, once again, with British coins.
It is estimated that today only 350 Holey dollars and around 1500 ‘Holes’ can be found by collectors and are worth thousands of dollars. Very rare ones can go for as much as $16,000. These coins are of great historic value. These are the first Australian coins, minted (or should we say re-minted) at the first Australian mint.
QUANTITY of COINS PRODUCED
1910 - 1964
SILVER CONTENT
PRE DECIMAL COINS
COINAGE
https://www.ancient.eu/coinage/
Written by Jan van der Crabben
Coins were introduced as a method of payment around the 6th or 5th century BCE. The invention of coins is still shrouded in mystery:
According to Herdotous (I, 94), coins were first minted by the Lydians, while Aristotle claims that the first coins were minted by Demodike of Kyrme, the wife of King Midas of Phrygia. Numismatists consider that the first coins were minted on the Greek island of Aegina, either by the local rulers or by king Pheidon of Argos.
Aegina, Samos, and Miletus all minted coins for the Egyptians, through the Greek trading post of Naucratis in the Nile Delta. It is certain that when Lydia was conquered by the Persians in 546 BCE, coins were introduced to Persia. The Phoenicians did not mint any coins until the middle of the fifth century BCE, which quickly spread to the Carthaginians who minted coins in Sicily. The Romans only started minting coins from 326 BCE.
Coins were brought to India through the Achaemenid Empire, as well as the successor kingdoms of Alexander the Great. Especially the Indo-Greek kingdoms minted (often bilingual) coins in the 2nd century BCE. The most beautiful coins of the classical age are said to have been minted by Samudragupta (335-376 CE), who portrayed himself as both conqueror and musician.
Coins were brought to India through the Achaemenid Empire, as well as the successor kingdoms of Alexander the Great. Especially the Indo-Greek kingdoms minted (often bilingual) coins in the 2nd century BCE. The most beautiful coins of the classical age are said to have been minted by Samudragupta (335-376 CE), who portrayed himself as both conqueror and musician.
The first coins were made of electrum, an alloy of silver and gold. It appears that many early Lydian coins were minted by merchants as tokens to be used in trade transactions. The Lydian state also minted coins, most of the coins mentioning king Alyattes of Lydia. Some Lydian coins have a so-called legend, a sort of dedication. One famous example found in Caria reads "I am the badge of Phanes" - it is still unclear who Phanes was.
In China, gold coins were first standardized during the Qin dynasty (221-207 BCE). After the fall of the Qin dynasty, the Han emperors added two other legal tenders: silver coins and "deerskin notes", a predecessor of paper currency which was a Chinese invention.
In China, gold coins were first standardized during the Qin dynasty (221-207 BCE). After the fall of the Qin dynasty, the Han emperors added two other legal tenders: silver coins and "deerskin notes", a predecessor of paper currency which was a Chinese invention.
INTERESTING COIN WEBSITES
The novice coin collector would do well by starting with this link:
Thanks to Dakota and her mother :-)
https://www.transferly.com/coin-collecting-for-the-novice/
There are lots of interesting websites.
1. http://cointypes.info/australia/
2. http://www.ramint.gov.au/
3. http://shop.aspost.com.au/collectables/coins
4. http://www.downies.com/?gclid=CNrow4-SmrYCFUpgpQodrFwAdw
5. http://www.australian-threepence.com
6. http://lunaticg.blogspot.com.au
7. http://numismaster.com/ta/numis.jsp
8. http://www.coinnews.net/
9. http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/
10. http://coins.about.com/
11. http://worldcoingallery.com
12. http://www.coincommunity.com/
13. http://www.coinweek.com/
14. http://www.coininfo.com/
15. www.coinworld.com/
16. http://mintnewsblog.com/
17. www.coincollectingnews.org/
18. http://www.silvercoinstoday.com/
19. http://www.mycoincollecting.com/
20. http://www.anda.com.au
2. http://www.ramint.gov.au/
3. http://shop.aspost.com.au/collectables/coins
4. http://www.downies.com/?gclid=CNrow4-SmrYCFUpgpQodrFwAdw
5. http://www.australian-threepence.com
6. http://lunaticg.blogspot.com.au
7. http://numismaster.com/ta/numis.jsp
8. http://www.coinnews.net/
9. http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/
10. http://coins.about.com/
11. http://worldcoingallery.com
12. http://www.coincommunity.com/
13. http://www.coinweek.com/
14. http://www.coininfo.com/
15. www.coinworld.com/
16. http://mintnewsblog.com/
17. www.coincollectingnews.org/
18. http://www.silvercoinstoday.com/
19. http://www.mycoincollecting.com/
20. http://www.anda.com.au
Rex Woodmore Australian Fine Art
http://art-sale.weebly.com
Don't sell your house to go looking for the treasure that you read about here on Oztreasure, or any other website, for that matter. Invest in my art instead!
http://art-sale.weebly.com
Don't sell your house to go looking for the treasure that you read about here on Oztreasure, or any other website, for that matter. Invest in my art instead!
Email Rex Woodmore: [email protected]
#GoldCoins, #SilverCoins, #CuproNicol, #CopperCoins, Antique, Collectible, Vintage, Decimal, PreDecimal, Rare, Found, #Lost, #Stolen, #Coins, #RareCoins, #Pieceofeight,