colonial coin question
EdHayes
Posts: 39 ✭✭
On ebay, I sometimes see pillar type spanish colonial silver coin that are dug up at Civil War sites. Ok, I know in past centuries that coins circulated for long periods of time, more so than today. BUT... was it that common that Civil War soldiers were carrying around pillar type silver coins (that would have been like 110 to 120 years old by the Civil War)? OR.... do these coins come to light at Civil War sites because those sites were ALSO Colonial era sites (virtually all of Virginia for example). What are the thoughts here?
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Small Spanish Colonial silver coins were in common use through the first half of the nineteenth century, and they were even counterstamped by U.S. merchants as a kind of advertising in the 1850s. However, foreign coins were made illegal for use in U. S. commerce in 1857, and most of these were turned in to the Government and melted. With the onset of the Civil War, coins of all types quickly began to disappear, especially silver and gold. Fractional currency began to appear in 1862, and postage stamps were used in lieu of small change. Dug coins could easily have been in the ground well before the onset of the Civil War.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
I agree with @Sonorandesertrat ...Especially in Virginia, those could have been dropped 30-40 years earlier....Cheers, RickO
The answers here above are correct. These things being listed in Civil War categories says more about the diggers -- and what they went to those sites looking for -- than the coins. I am certainly not opposed to metal detecting (in the vast majority of cases), but this is one proper beef academic archaeologists have with it: an object divorced from its context tells a lot less (or tells the wrong story entirely) vs. one "properly" excavated. Of course, most of these sites have been disturbed by farming, erosion, construction, etc. and there ain't much original context left.
That being said, coins of that era were still occasionally kicking around into the 1860s.
Betts medals, colonial coins, US Mint medals, foreign coins found in early America, and other numismatic Americana
I appreciate the coments. The reason I focused on the pillar coinage is for 2 reasons....1. I can kinda see a Civil War soldier carrying around a very worn portrait Spanish Colonial coin that might still have been kicking around in circulation.. but I would think pillars would mostly have receded from circulation by the Civil War and ....2. I'd like to think that a pillar half reale that I purchased a number of years ago (said to have been found at Civil War site around Fredricksburg, VA) is more likely to have spent its circulation life in that part of Virginia when George Washington and his immediate family resided there.
One thing about wars, money from long savings in walls and under beds come out either to support a cause or to support a group of people. So during large wars the coins could have come from old family savings even though not in use at the time.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Great post!
Interesting read I like