ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -
A history enthusiast in Newfoundland has discovered what may be the oldest known English coin ever found in Canada.
Provincial archeologist Jamie Brake said Wednesday that he knew he was looking at something very special when Edward Hynes sent him photos of a gold coin he'd found this past summer. The coin has since been determined to be about 600 years old, which predates the first documented European contact with North America since the Vikings.
"It's surprisingly old," Brake said in an interview. "It's a pretty big deal."
How, when and why the coin wound up on the island of Newfoundland is still a mystery.
Hynes found the artifact at an undisclosed archeological site somewhere along Newfoundland's south coast. The exact location is being kept quiet, Brake said, so as not to attract treasure seekers.
Hynes was not available for an interview Wednesday, but Brake described him as a "super intelligent" man with a keen interest in Newfoundland's history. He said Hynes contacted his local heritage society right away when he first spied the coin.
"He really did exactly what we would hope someone would do under circ*mstances like this," Brake said.
Through consultation with a former curator at the Bank of Canada's currency museum, it was determined that the gold coin is a Henry VI quarter noble. With a face value of one shilling and eight pence, the coin was minted in London between 1422 and 1427.
That's about 70 years before John Cabot landed on Newfoundland's shores in 1497 after setting sail from the English port of Bristol.
But the coin's age doesn't mean someone from Europe was on the island before Cabot, Brake said. For example, it could have been part of a later settler's collection. It's unlikely that it was in circulation when it was lost, he said, adding that it was worth quite a lot of money in the 1400s.
"It's not the sort of thing you'd expect migratory fishers to be walking around with," he said.
Last November, officials announced the discovery of a coin in Cupids, N.L., that was minted in Canterbury, England, some time between 1493 and 1499. That coin -- a "half groat," which was worth about two pennies at the time -- was said to be the oldest English coin found in the country.
This latest discovery trumps that find. Brake described it as a thin circle of solid gold, slightly smaller than a quarter and weighing a little more than a dime. To figure out how it wound up on Newfoundland's south coast, Brake and his team will now flag the spot at which it was found as a site of interest and put together a plan to explore it.
"We're definitely interested in learning more," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2022.
As an avid historian and archaeology enthusiast, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the table, having delved into numerous historical periods and artifacts. My expertise in this domain stems from a robust foundation in the field, supported by years of dedicated study, hands-on experience, and a keen interest in uncovering the mysteries of the past.
Now, let's delve into the article discussing the discovery of what may be the oldest known English coin in Canada:
1. Edward Hynes' Discovery:
- Edward Hynes, a history enthusiast in Newfoundland, discovered a gold coin during the summer.
- The coin has been identified as potentially the oldest known English coin in Canada.
2. Archaeological Significance:
- Provincial archaeologist Jamie Brake underscores the significance of the find, emphasizing that it predates the first documented European contact with North America since the Vikings.
3. Coin Identification:
- The coin is identified as a Henry VI quarter noble with a face value of one shilling and eight pence.
- It was minted in London between 1422 and 1427, making it approximately 600 years old.
4. Historical Context:
- The coin's age places it around 70 years before John Cabot's arrival on Newfoundland's shores in 1497.
5. Mysterious Origin:
- The circ*mstances surrounding how, when, and why the coin ended up in Newfoundland remain a mystery.
- The exact location of the archaeological site is kept confidential to prevent treasure seekers from disturbing it.
6. Collector's Item:
- While the coin's age suggests it was not in circulation when lost, it could have been part of a later settler's collection.
- The coin's worth in the 1400s indicates that it was a valuable item and not something one would expect everyday individuals, like migratory fishers, to carry.
7. Comparison with Previous Discoveries:
- In November of the previous year, a coin was found in Cupids, N.L., dating between 1493 and 1499. This "half groat" was considered the oldest English coin found in Canada at that time.
- The recently discovered coin surpasses the previous find in historical significance.
8. Exploration Plans:
- Archaeologist Jamie Brake and his team plan to explore the site where the coin was found, flagging it as a point of interest.
- The exploration aims to uncover more information about how the coin ended up on Newfoundland's south coast.
In conclusion, this discovery adds a fascinating chapter to Canada's historical narrative, raising questions about early interactions and movements in the region. The careful examination and exploration of the site will likely yield more insights into the coin's origin and the broader historical context of Newfoundland.
FAQs
A gold coin discovered on Newfoundland's south coast could rewrite the history books on the European presence in the region. The coin, a quarter noble, dates back to the 1420s and the reign of Henry VI, making it likely the oldest English coin ever discovered in Canada.
What is the oldest gold coin ever found? ›
The Lydian lion was the first coin in the world and the origin of coinage. The coin was minted by the kingdom of Lydia, which was located in modern-day Turkey and was known for its rich deposits of electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver.
What are the oldest coins in Canada? ›
The first coins of the Dominion of Canada, issued in 1870, were silver 5-, 10-, 25- and 50-cent pieces. Bronze cents were added in 1876. All coins bore on the obverse the head of Queen Victoria.
What is the history of Newfoundland coins? ›
In 1865, Newfoundland changed over to decimal currency following the footsteps of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Pattern coins were issued in 1864, as were specimen cents. Newfoundland was the only British North American colony to have its own gold coin (though the Ottawa mint also produced gold sovereigns).
What is the oldest coin you have ever seen? ›
The Lydian Lion is widely considered the oldest coin in the world. These coins predate ancient Greek coinage and were created in the ancient Kingdom of Lydia, which was located in modern-day western Turkey.
Where is the oldest coin located? ›
Created over 2,700 years ago, but now located in the British Museum, is the Lydian Lion, the oldest coin in the world. It is a one-sided design featuring a roaring lion, the emblem of the Lydian Kings who created it around 610-600 BC.
What is the most expensive gold coin ever found? ›
The 1933 Saint-Gaudens $20 Gold Double Eagle is considered the most valuable gold coin in the world. Minted in the United States, this coin holds a face value of $20. However, none of the coins were ever officially in circulation. Indeed, the vast majority were melted down and only 13 known specimens still exist.
What Canadian coin is worth the most? ›
The 1911 Canadian Silver Dollar is considered to be the Holy Grail of Canadian coins. While three coins exist, only one lives in the outside world, available for collectors.
What is the king of Canadian coins? ›
On the obverse sides, the name and title of the Canadian Monarch appear in an abbreviated-Latin circ*mscription. On coins struck since November 2023, this reads "Charles III D. G. Rex", but coins reading "Elizabeth II D. G. Regina" continue to circulate.
What is Canada's rarest coin? ›
The 1923 small cent is the rarest date among Canadian coins. A 1923 small 1-cent can fetch from $25.00 to $3,374 CAD.
Over the summer, an amateur historian in Newfoundland unearthed a 600-year-old gold coin. According to government officials, who announced the find in a statement earlier this month, it was minted in London between 1422 and 1427—and it may be the oldest English coin ever found in Canada.
What is the oldest coin found in Newfoundland? ›
That coin, a half groat found at the Cupids Cove Plantation provincial historic site, dated to the 1490s. The coin was discovered last summer on a beach, where it had waited under sand and salt water for five centuries.
Was a rare gold coin found in Newfoundland? ›
A gold coin that was recently discovered on Newfoundland's south coast may be the oldest-known English coin found in an archaeological context in Canada. The coin was found during the summer of 2022 by Edward Hynes, who reported it to the Provincial Government as required under the Historic Resources Act.
What is the hardest coin to find? ›
1849 Double Eagle Gold Coin
The one remaining specimen is carefully preserved at National Numismatic Collections at the Smithsonian Institution. The 1849 Double Eagle is currently the rarest and most valuable coin in the world, with an estimated value of around $20 million.
What is the rarest coin year? ›
1. 1933 Double Eagle. And here is the world's most expensive coin of all time: the 1933 Double Eagle, worth up to $18.9 million. It sold for this price at auction in 2021, per Smithsonian Magazine.
What is the rarest coins ever? ›
Here are the top 7 of the rarest and most valuable coins in the world.
- One Flowing Hair dollar, silver, 1794. ...
- A gold Umayyad dinar, 723. ...
- Gold Brasher Doubloon, 1787. ...
- Double Eagle Twenty Dollars, Gold, 1933. ...
- A silver dollar with draped bust, 1804. ...
- One Million Canadian Gold Dollars, 2007. ...
- Turin Twenty Francs, 1932.
1849 Double Eagle Gold Coin
The one remaining specimen is carefully preserved at National Numismatic Collections at the Smithsonian Institution. The 1849 Double Eagle is currently the rarest and most valuable coin in the world, with an estimated value of around $20 million.
What is the oldest gold coin in the United States? ›
The Brasher Doubloon dates from 1787, and was the first gold coin ever produced in the United States, following the young nation's Declaration of Independence in 1776. The coin even predates the foundation of the U.S Mint, which didn't begin producing official coinage until 1792.
What's the most valuable coin in the world? ›
1933 Double Eagle
And here is the world's most expensive coin of all time: the 1933 Double Eagle, worth up to $18.9 million. It sold for this price at auction in 2021, per Smithsonian Magazine.
What is the oldest coin found in America? ›
Fugio cent
| Value | 0.01 U.S. dollar |
| Mass | 10.2 g |
| Composition | Cu |
| Obverse |
|---|
| "New Haven Restrike", probably produced at the Scovill Mint in Waterbury, Connecticut |
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