The Gilfoil Copper --- Exciting XRF Analysis!
ambro51
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Some months ago I posted photos and details on an unknown copper which I suspect is an example of the "halfpence" struck by Private William Gilfoil at Fort Crown Point in the Colony of New York circa 1770. These coins were, according to British Court transcripts, "beat out to the size of halfpence" and passed current at Fort Crown Point at 14 to the shilling. Gilfoil made these from the copper hoops from Gunpowder barrels, which were stamped with the British Broad Artow near the rivet which joined the hoop ends. Recovered pieces from neighboring forts show this stamp well formed with the central shaft showing tapering to a point before reaching the top of the arrow, exactly the same as the imprint on my coin. While no coins exactly like mine have been discovered, a very similar farthing size piece has been recovered with "a row of parallel dents coming in from one side". Also, two segments of Spanish 2 Real coins have been recovered counterstamped with a very small British Broad Arrow. These characteristics tie all four pieces into a common theme. ------- I have had my coin analyzed to determine its metallic composition and the results are very exciting. Here is the analysis: Cu 94.8 Zn 1.03 Ag 0.38 Sb 0.52 Fe 0.09 As 0.20 Pb 1.82 Bi 0,87 (Cb Sn Au not present). The alloy and trace elements are VERY significant . The trace elements of silver and arsenic, along with the absence of nickel tie this copper to the Great Copper Mine of Parys Mountain in Wales , known as Anglessey Copper. The deposit was so large the Royal Navy was able to sheath its ship hulls to protect them from ship worms. The copper was rolled out to thin sheets. After getting the opinion of a metallurgist, the alloy proves to be purpose made. Lead, Zinc and Bismuth do not occur at this level as traces from refining, but were added on purpose. This alloy would have exceptional malleability as well as corrosion resistance.... Exactly the features needed to roll out this metal thin, allow it to be formed into hoops and resist corrosion during sea journeys or long storage. Very important also is that the Parys Mountain deposit was mined from 1768 to 1800, when it was nearly totally mined out. ----- So, we are getting closer and closer to Authentication! The work that remains to be done is a field trip to Peebles Island NY where thousands of recovered artifacts are stored. Matching the metal to hoop fragments found on site, examining the "farthing" and it's dents and hopefully XRF testing will follow, which if found to be of a matching metal.....these are a few more things needed before conclusive decisions can be made in order to get the Gilfoil Copper recognized and given its proper place in Colonial Numismatics. 
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Editied to add: The real "proof of the pudding" would be to do XRF on known ship hull and barrel hoop material of the era and English source, and see what matches what...
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<< <i>Its interesting, the lead in this alloy would actually be molten while the copper hardened and in turn remains globules and streaks of pure lead. Very very small they are always present as new surface is exposed or as the metal is rolled or extruded. It acts as a lubricant, as does the bismuth, which is a periodic table neighbor of lead sharing much in common. YES it's great seeing this backed up by some accepted science which not only offers place of origin but gives a narrow time frame window. The large size of this piece (29.1 mm irreg) is much larger than George II halfpence or later Canadian Blacksmith Tokens by 2mm BUT very close to the large (30mm) Regal halfpence of George III begun in 1770. A Very Cool Numismatic Adventure and I hope you all enjoy sharing it with me.
What is the weight? What is the thickness?
Is it plausible that a circulated George II halfpence was flattened and then stamped with the arrow design? That would be one possibility, considering that the XRF analysis shows the composition to be correct for the period. The other possibility is that it is a genuine Gilfoil copper.
Just asking. I know nothing about these, other than what I have read "here and there."
Great start
I do ask what other period copper "items" would have been made from the same sourced copper alloy material?
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I recall the previous thread and follow this with interest.
Best wishes for a good weekend all,
Eric
<< <i>I had my 66 Studebaker in a car show today at a "living history" museum Villiage and had a talk with the Blacksmith. He is, interestingly enough a metal detectorist/coin collector. He has agreed to attempt replication of the token using strap copper and the simple tools of his trade! I'll get to take photos as he works. This should be a Hoot! >>
What are some items from the period that cost a cent/penny?
I ask so the the amount of labor cost could properly be gauged.
<< <i>I had my 66 Studebaker in a car show today at a "living history" museum Villiage and had a talk with the Blacksmith. He is, interestingly enough a metal detectorist/coin collector. He has agreed to attempt replication of the token using strap copper and the simple tools of his trade! I'll get to take photos as he works. This should be a Hoot! >>
Ambro, I can't wait to see the pictures!!
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<< <i>As to the "value" of each coin, all I can relate is that they "passed current" at the Fort 14 to the shilling. A British Army privates pay, per day, was six pence. >>
I'm not questioning the validity, but trying to ask if this guy who's making them will use a method where the effort is worth less than the product.
Wow. It’s been Five Yearssince my “obsession” with this. Now it sits forgotten in an envelope along with my other coins. Obsessions. Weird.
Obsession is good... leads to achievement..... I hope you get excited over this again.... would like to see XRF comparisons to museum pieces and trace to documented mine samples. Good project. Cheers, RickO
Of course as usual I open threads that interest me, and I saw this thread and thought to myself: It's great to see @Ambro51 posting again, this should be good!" Not noticing at all the original date of the posting. Hey if I didn't think I was weird I would be wondering if others didn't notice my weirdness either and I'd have to step up my weirdgame.
At least he is posting again in this case
Interesting thread, and an item that is worth getting obsessed over. I love it!
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
Well, what has happened in the last five years concerning this piece? Any progress linking it back to Gilfoil or did you hit a wall?
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"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Nothing. My collecting interests moved to very early Leica Cameras. If Anyone who still finds interest with the Gilfoil copper, and is willing to take up the authentication process...the door is open.
"...these are a few more things needed before conclusive decisions can be made in order to get the Gilfoil Copper recognized and given its proper place in Colonial Numismatics.
Sorry to read that this possibility shall not occur. BTW, I missed the earlier link. Where did the "Gilfoil" name come from?
Nevermind.
It is on Google.
So many years on. the Gilfoil Copper rests in its little cloth bag and paper envelope. I have, however, lost the drive and emotions needed to carry on this investigation. ••••. This thread lays out what I know. together with attempts to link it all together. If Anyone (Jesse Kraft.. are you listening?) wants to take up the quest, I’d be willing to share info or loan out the piece.
for those unfaliar, a copy from coins nd. Edu. Tokens from a Blacksmith in Colonial America
Gary Trudgen has uncovered an interesting episode from colonial America concerning a blacksmith who was said to have made halfpenny size coppers. In upper state New York near the Canadian border, at Crown Point on the shore of Lake Champlain, the British constructed a fort between 1759 and 1763. As more individuals were assigned to the fort a community was established just outside its west wall. Eventually the community grew to a total of 83 houses. Unfortunately, on April 23, 1773, while a Mrs. Ross was baking some beans on a hearth in the fort, the pitch in the chimney caught on fire and quickly spread out of control. Once the one hundred barrels of gunpowder stored in the magazine were engulfed, the ensuing cataclysmic explosion and fire destroyed the entire fort.
This catastrophe was the focus of a military inquiry in 1774. During the inquiry it was revealed a private of the 26th Regiment of the British army named William Gilfoil, who was employed as the local blacksmith, was known to have made halfpence. Three of the individuals interviewed in the inquiry said they had heard Gilfoil had made coppers. The most detailed information came from Findley Miller, a Surgeon's assistant in the 26th Regiment. Miller stated:
There were many Coppers current at Crown Point, beat out to the size of a Half penny which were said to be made by Gilfoil, and I once got Fourteen of them in Exchange for a Shilling. ... There was a French-woman who went by the name of Mrs. Dalton who said she had received several Dollars worth of them, but not from Gilfoil in particular; They usually went by the name of Gilfoil's Coppers. ... I have been told, but I don't recollect by whom, that he was instructed in making them by a Deserter from the 52nd Regiment. [Trudgen, p. 999]
None of the three individuals had ever witnessed Gilfoil making coppers, their information was simply based on general knowlege. No examples of the Gilfoil coppers are known, nor do we have any idea of the method of manufacture. Spilman suspects they were more than smooth copper disks hammered out to the size of a halfpenny, as one would not need training to make so simple an item. Newman has mentioned, if "beat out" referred to their appearance rather than their method of manufacture, it is possible the coins may have not have been hammered at all but may have been cast counterfeit halfpence. Admittedly the context of the phrase "beat out" appears to refer to a hammered item, but the individual making that statement is only inferring the method of manufacture based on the appearance of the copper. Clearly, there is no way to prove a connection between Gilfoil's coppers and the traditional Blacksmith series. In any event it is interesting to discover evidence that in colonial America, at sometime between 1763 and 1773, it appears a local blacksmith in a remote area was producing small change coins.
reference also war of 1812.ca which refers to the Copper hoops; , “Remains of these metal hoops are found throughout the Fort York site from the 1813 explosion of the Grand Magazine. Though badly twisted, many of the copper hoops still show manufacturing marks and even broad arrow stamps near the rivet points.”