Evasion Currency

A post was made earlier today about Wood's Hibernia coins. I found it quite interesting and ended up doing a bit of reading. Then I thought I would look through my bag of copper culls to see what I could find. I did find one that was barely identifiable.
Another coin I found was this Evasion Token.
This type of coin was made in England, For export to the new American Colony's
Ob: Gregory III PON. (there is a D at bottom of bust)
Re: Bonny Girl. 1779



https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces66815.html
Please post your Evasion tokens, or any info on the subject as these played a pivotal part in the history of U.S. Coinage.

 

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What were they evading and who were "they".
I know nothing about these.

 

My bonny lies over the ocean....

 

Glad that post inspired you. Thats maybe one of the best things Ive heard all day. That coin you found is neat.

 

I have a few Hibernia coins, 1749,1782,1805. I do not have a Wood's in what you might call good condition. Wood's Hibernia stands out for me.
My ancestor William lived on leased land in Magheraconluse, near Annahilt in
Northern Ireland in 1716. He was from Scotland.

 

They were evading counterfeiting laws by not duplicating actual coins, and often putting nonsense on them combined with a regal portrait.

 

There is an excellent article in the latest Journal of early American numismatics. Evasions were made during a short period in the last few years of the 1790's after a change in the counterfeiting laws which would include copper coins. They were made in England and for use in England however, not in America. Some certainly made their way here in the late 1790's and early 1800's, but have not showed up in any appreciable amount in archeological or metal detecting scenarios.

 

I don't know much about these myself.
https://www.money.org/collector/user_7715/blog/evasion-coppers-of-the-colonial-period

 

There is controversy on how many of these coin came to the colony's. If you care enough to do some reading.
https://books.google.com/books?id=C...KYr0gqQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiGs-3zktTyAhWPY

 

Man let me tell you. I was never a book learner. I have always been a hands on guy. I can't figure this counterfeit non regal game out to save my life. I know no more about it now than i did when i discovered they existed. The only tool i have in my bag is i know they were under weight. After that.... I'm a sitting duck.

But... let me say this,,, i am intrigued by them. This is a Simian I am looking at now. From my research I am coming to conclude this is genuine. Very Rare. A Very solid nice example. These were made using hand cut dies. Also apparently the dies were such crap that not many examples were made from each. The ask on this coin is 450.00. Comparing it with other Simian samples he is close i suppose. But I'd like the opinion of other more experienced collectors if we have any here. Maybe someday I will get a better grasp on this non regal collecting. But right now I'm lost. 1751 Crude George ll Simian Non Regal Colonial Rare Halfpenny strong J for 1.

 

Yes, that is from Crosby, been reading him for 40 years! There were some erroneous assumptions in the 19th century that the bungtown tokens referred to in some early legislation trying to rid the economy of lightweight imitations were evasions. Crosby picked up on that, and helped perpetuate the myth. The research of the last 150 years or so has completely shot down this theory. They were only produced for a very short time in the late 1790's, most were backdated. Die linkage has pretty securely attributed them to just a few token manufacturers. I would strongly suggest getting hold of a copy of the Journal of Early American Numismatics as stated, Very thoroughly researched and very comprehensive.

 

I am pretty shocked that the ANA would have such an article, the author is completely confusing evasions and counterfeits. Even including Machin's Mill pieces and Canadian blacksmith tokens with them! They are totally different coins.

 

Thats actually a good article. Doesn't try to get cute. One thing it doesn't mention which I think they did was pre date the dies. In other words that 51 i just posted might have actually been cut in 1775.

 

Ah well crap! See what i mean. Info is all over the place and confusing.

 

You are absolutely correct! The very nature of the manufacture of these type coins kind of rules out much original documentation! I may be wrong, but didn't I see you post that you coined C4, the colonial coin collectors club? If so, post on the email message board they host, you will get answers from the foremost experts in the field.

 

Haven't heard a peep from them. Sent the money.... waiting on a login or newsletter or whatever.

 

There are contact emails on their website, I would shoot the secretary an email. Forget about their forum, that is absolutely dead, but the email list is very active.

 

Thank you for the information and taking the time to post it all.

 

Thanks for the links. That second one is quite extensive.
I now know what Evasion Tokens are.
Thanks again.

 

It is a Simian, the die pairing is obv 10 rev 51A I can't say anything about the rarity other than in general Simians with long ribbon obverse are rarer than the short ribbon ones and the undated reverse are rarer than the dated ones.