Channel Islands (Guernsey): copper 2-doubles, 1889-H; Heaton mint, Birmingham

Yeah, I know, but my gloves got all greenified, too.

Oh, my. I get excited enough about lots that contain a good number of Vickies from the 19th century. I’d be all amped up if I was going through big lots with 17th and 18th century material!

When I was detecting over there (Essex), I was astonished to learn that some diggers there treat the heaping handfuls of “greenies” they find (copper coins like that, but environmentally damaged from 1, 2, 3+ centuries in the ground) as scrap copper to be recycled, with nary a thought of examining it closely.

I mean, yeah, they aren’t entirely wrong about that, since most of the greenies will have little or no numismatic market value as-is. But literally trashing centuries-old coins just makes me cringe. I want to know their stories! King George coppers- even the crusty, corroded ones- were treasured finds for me over here in Georgia, and reverently curated in my detector finds album.

I saw a fella dig a 17th century James II “gunmoney” Irish piece when I was on my UK detecting trip. It was just another “greenie” to him- one of a sizeable handful in his pouch. I was the only person in our group who even knew what it was, let alone being intrigued by it. How did it get to that wheat field in Essex?

I only found two greenies over there myself. One was a 1730 George II farthing and the other was a 1918 George V halfpenny. I’d have been delighted to dig more, no matter how wretched. Even if they were only worth the copper scrap value.

*Also found two silvers- both hammered. Pennies of Edward I (1300-ish) and Charles I (1640s). It was exciting.