The Portland Penny and Beer!

Zoins

Anyone ever visit Coin Toss Brewing?

I just found them online and have to say I like their logo. I was really curious as to why they would choose a large cent and wondered if the owners were numismatists. The I saw the following on their homepage:

The Coin Toss moniker is a nod to the fateful event that determined Portland’s name.

https://www.cointossbrewing.com/

After reading this, I just had to look up the history of Portland's name!

In 1845 Overton sold his remaining half of the claim to Francis W. Pettygrove of Portland, Maine. Both Pettygrove and Lovejoy wished to rename "The Clearing" after their respective hometowns (Lovejoy's being Boston, and Pettygrove's, Portland). This controversy was settled with a coin toss that Pettygrove won in a series of two out of three tosses, thereby providing Portland with its namesake. The coin used for this decision, now known as the Portland Penny, is on display in the headquarters of the Oregon Historical Society.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon#Establishment

Then I was curious as to the date of the coin and found out it's a 1835 Large Cent:

The coin, minted in 1835, was found in a safe deposit box left behind by Lovejoy and is now on display in the Oregon Historical Society Museum.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Penny

Here's a photo from Belleview Rare Coins:

https://www.bellevuerarecoins.com/coin-flip-shaped-northwest-history/

ricko

Very interesting story.... I have never been to that brewery, but checking their website, it looks interesting. Next time I am in Portland, I will definitely visit their facility. They even have a 'Half Penny Lager'...sounds worth a quaff or two... Cheers, RickO

Lakesammman

Will make it a point to visit next time in Portland! Thanks for the info.

Belleview??

spacehayduke

Looks like it is actually in Lake Oswego instead of PDX - no food at the taproom as far as I can tell. Instead for an authentic Oregon experience, go get lunch at the Rogue Pub and Eatery in North Plains. Rogue on tap (what more can anyone ask for in life), and the best burgers in NW Oregon..... Maybe no large cent, but just as historic from many perspectives.

http://www.roguepub.com/

Best, SH

AuldFartte

One can find some really interesting things here. Especially historical data like the OP's post. I really enjoy this story. As I now live right across the Columbia River from Portland, OR, I will visit there. As a side note, my city of Vancouver, WA, was named after sea captain George Vancouver, as is Vancouver, BC. By the way, this city was the first named after the captain. The one in BC was named later, making Vancouver, WA, older than the one in Canada. Looks like Vancouver, BC fared better by far.