Hessian remains unearthed at Revolutionary War battle site Fort Mercer including gold guinea

Researchers believe they have uncovered at a battle site in New Jersey the remains of as many as 12 Hessian soldiers who fought during the Revolutionary War

Also found was a King George III gold guinea which would have been a soldier’s pay for a month.

The Philadelphia Inquirer and Associated Press article with photo of guinea obverse:
https://www.inquirer.com/wires/ap/h...d-revolutionary-war-battle-site-20220802.html

 

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I’d go and fight right away for an old gold Guinea!

 

Honorable that the gold was buried with the dead soldier and not pilfered.
Unless I misunderstood and the coin was not connected to the graves.

A fascinating discovery nonetheless.

 

Yes, I'm inclined to agree with you. There is a longstanding practice throughout history of shaking down the deceased before burying them. And the hessians were mercenaries, not even loyal subjects of the king, so...but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt

 

Rowan University has a webpage about the discovery and identifies the guinea date as 1766.

https://chss.rowan.edu/departments/history/red-bank-battlefield

 

Interesting read.

Thanks for posting