1797 Cartwheel Penny

[werewolf]

Australia's first 'official' currency - brought over from Britain in approx 1799. Big, heavy and some would say ugly! But I thinks she's a beauty - even in this condition!

Almost certainly dropped by early settlers in my region of NSW, just south of Sydney.

Found yesterday with my Cibola, at a depth of about 6 inches.

Not particularly valuable, but rarely dug these days.

(photographed alongside a currently circulated Oz 50 cent piece for comparison).

 

[holey dollar]

Hi there
Well done with your find, very rare coin here, sad to say not so rare in the UK.Not sure if the Penny could be spent here, before the Holey Dollar was minted in 1810 most trades in the colony were done by barter, Rum was traded a lot in those days, But if you think about the coin you must of been able to trade with the coin, or the coin would not of been found here, it would of been traded for goods before the settler got here. Nice Find.

Dave/Holey Dollar

 

[werewolf]

Hi Dave.......it seems these definitely were legal tender from the time they arrived here up until the early 1800s. Used alongside other 'unofficial' coins from Portugal, India, Holland & the Spanish colonies.

Would love to find the even bigger, heavier 2 penny

 

[Hombre]

Howdy werewolf

That signal on the large penny must have blown your headphones off! That is one large coin, a guy would'nt want to carry many of those around...........Nice find!

 

[tink]

Nice find Werewolf. Anytime you find a 1799 coin it is a great hunt. If you think about it, here in the USA that would be a very rare find with a date like that. Heck my oldest is a 1882 IH cent to date. love to find one even close to that time frame here.

 

[trueblue]

that is indeed an excellent find , congrats werewolf

 

[tvr]

Nice penny. Always fun finding old things.
tvr

 

[jabbo]

Found one in NJ in 1974 in front yard of old house, had no corrosion at all. Don't have it anymore.

 

[aussiebob]

Awesome,I've dreamed about a really early find like that!If you dont mind me asking was it found in a rural area,or urban.
Did you research the area first?

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

That's a pretty awesome find Steve! I've only ever seen one of those and it's only 11 years older than European settlement! I'd love to find something with the first 2 numbers being 17. You can't get any older over here. Congratulations.
For US detectorists. The 50 cent piece above it, is about the same size as your large cents, so it can give you a good reference point of size.
Mick Evans.

 

[werewolf]

Thanks Mick - I'm still excited by it.

Aussiebob, this was a totally unexpected find in a seldom used sports field, directly next to a 1950s built private college in urban Wollongong, NSW. I picked up over $120 in modern 50c, $1 & $2 coins here but not a single pre decimal!! I've also been back since I found the cartwheel, and despite thorough searching I've found nothing but more modern coins! However I'm sure there are more worthwhile targets here - I can smell them!

The field sits next to a cricket oval, which I know has been here since the 1930s - before that there MAY have been a homestead/farm but info is sketchy. I'm still looking into it. As Wollongong wasn't settled proper until towards the mid 1800s, this coin probably belonged to the regions very first pioneers. If coins could only talk........

As far as the cartwheel goes - this is only the 1 penny. The 2 penny is even larger & heavier! I will now always investigate those loud, broad signals that usually indicate an aluminium can etc!

Steve

 

[Furious T]

Go for it werewolf. That is a great find!! I'd keep going to that site and removing every signal you get. If there are pre-decimals there, you may have to move more modern layers to get to them. Good luck on the 2d. I'll be happy to find something like the 1d you got. HH Sapper.

 

[twisted stick]

way to go werewolf great find . i can,t wait to get started myself . till then i enjoy reading and looking at everyones finds
again way to go .

 

[aussiebob]

Very interesting werewolf,keep us posted on any other early coins or relics you may find,once again congrats,I would be framing that penny for sure!