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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ColonialDave, post: 1753674, member: 56493&quot;]The topic of Foreign Coins used in Colonial Americas (from the first European discovery of the New World to around 1820) interests me greatly especially after reading Todd Cook&#039;s &quot;The <i>Lost Coins</i> of Early Americans&quot;. Redbook&#039;s listing of colonial coins only gives a vague idea of the coinage used in the colonies, relegating their list to only coins that were struck specifically for or in the 13 colonies. It leaves out the many other foreign powers that had a foothold in areas that would later become part of the United States.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Let us not forget that the Russia Empire began colonizing present day Alaska in the 1780s and even established a fort in northern California in 1812. The Swedes settled in modern day Delaware and New Jersey in 1638. The complete list of foreign powers in the Colonial era of North and South America is as follows (please correct me if I am wrong):</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Spain - (New Spain, South America, Caribbean), Commonly found foreign coins: (Reales of various denominations, maravedis, blancas)</p><p>Portugal - (Brazil), Commonly found foreign coins: (various copper\silver Reis denominations)</p><p>Netherlands - (New Amsterdam, Caribbean), Commonly found foreign coins: (Lion Dollar, duit)</p><p>Sweden - (Delaware, New Jersey), Commonly found foreign coin: (1/4 Ore)</p><p>England - (Canada, 13 colonies, Caribbean, Bermuda) Commonly found foreign coins: (Halfpenny, farthing)</p><p>France - (Canada, Mississippi river basin region, Louisiana, Caribbean, French Guiana) Commonly found foreign coins: (Copper Sou, Liard)</p><p>Denmark - (Danish West Indies, Caribbean) - (various Skilling denominations)</p><p>Russia - (Alaska, California, Hawaii), Commonly found coins: (1748 1/2 Kopek, Siberian 5 Kopek)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Many of these countries&#039; coins found there way over to the new world through trade. The Spanish reales, the Dutch &quot;Lion Dollar&quot;, the English Halfpenny\farthing, and the French Copper\Billion Deniers varieties are all heavily mentioned in various sources. I have tried to find references to other types of coins came over besides the usual suspects.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For starters, I have looked for archaeological references of various states to see what coins have been excavated at past digs. Many of the archaeology survey sources are extremely hard to find online; especially regarding evidence of Dutch coins found in the new world. However there are few good websites that I have found out there. The AVPA Jamestown Rediscovery website does have neat pictures of English\Irish coins and jetons that they have found at the Jamestown settlement site. Also Alaska&#039;s Department of Natural Resources - Castle Hill Archaeological Project gives some good insight to Russian Kopek coins as well as Japanese coins that were found at Castle Hill and used in Russian America.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Many metal detecting forum sites seem to provide good insight to what colonial era foreign coins are being found out there as well.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>If any of you know of other websites (or printed sources) which have good archaeological information\photos regarding coins used in Russian America, New Sweden, Danish West Indies, New Amsterdam\Dutch colonies, French colonies, New Spain, Canada\13 colonies, Brazil, etc. please don&#039;t hesitate to post that info here. Also if you have colonial era foreign coin finds of your own please share them here. Thanks.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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