1898

[Jacksons]

We live in Geelong, South of Melbourne Victoria. Today while digging in our garden we found a coin.

It's markings are 1898, VICTORIA.DEI.GRA.BRITT.REGINA.FIO.DEF.IND.IMP.

We live in an old farm house, built 1920.

Anyone have any ideas about this coin? It's pretty worn, I dug it out about 1 foot underground. 

Look forward to hearing from someone, our kids are as intrigued as we are about it's history.

[jelida]

As British coins were current in Australia at that time, it may well be a pocket loss from the early part of the last century. A nice piece of history quite possibly handled by a previous owner of your farm, and well spotted!

Jerry

[ozjohn]

What was the denomination of this coin?

[Unwilling Numismatist]

Could be a sovereign .. or a farthing.

I guess pics / colour / size would all be useful, as well as maybe a description of the reverse.

Edited December 3, 2017 by Unwilling Numismatist

[jelida]

Perhaps a crown, if the legend is as given.?

Pics would be nice.

 

[Nick]

It could be any of the silver denominations except the halfcrown.  Size and/or colour needed.

[jelida]

32 minutes ago, Nick said:

It could be any of the silver denominations except the halfcrown.  Size and/or colour needed.

True, I was going by the fact he mentions all the rest of the legend on the coin but not that it stated a denomination. That may simply be an omission.

Jerry

[Stuntman]

I suspect it's a crown as well, given that the reverse would only say 1898 and have no other legend.  

So, Jacksons - is it about 3.9cm across, about 28g in weight, and made of silver?  Nice find, anyway!

[ozjohn]

 

12 hours ago, Nick said:

It could be any of the silver denominations except the halfcrown.  Size and/or colour needed.

Halfcrowns were issued in Australia up to 1910 and perhaps later to use up coins remaining in the mint vaults and were in circulation until the early 1930s. Probably due to people coming from the UK to Australia. Both countries shared the same currency until 1932 when the pound used in Australia was devalued to 15/- sterling. Australia continued to use sterling silver until 1946 when it was debased to 50% silver. UK 50% silver coins that were brought to Australia after 1919 until 1932 were redeemed by the BOE for the full 92.5% silver rate.

As an aside UK bronze coins were in circulation until the late 1960s and were still recognizable design date etc. relatively intact. If the coin found buried at Geelong was dated 1898 it would have been less than 30 years of age when lost and should still be in pretty good condition unless it corroded while buried.

[Rob]

I spent some time in Geelong in the mid 1980s working at ANAHL shortly before it had the name change to Australian Animal Health Laboratories (AAHL). A change probably hastened by the frequent pronunciation of the former acronym as anal and not AN followed by a drawn out AHL as I was informed it should be.  

Great time, in the good old days before Oz became politically correct.

[ozjohn]

There's still plenty of us Cranky old bastards who are not politically correct. 

[Nick]

10 hours ago, ozjohn said:

Halfcrowns were issued in Australia up to 1910 and perhaps later

It still can't be a halfcrown though.  The halfcrown has different lettering, which is why I excluded it.

[zookeeperz]

1 hour ago, Nick said:

It still can't be a halfcrown though.  The halfcrown has different lettering, which is why I excluded it.

My money is on 1898 Penny has same legend and they were probably carried back and forth to Oz 

[ozjohn]

11 hours ago, Nick said:

It still can't be a halfcrown though.  The halfcrown has different lettering, which is why I excluded it.

True but the reply gave the impression that halfcrowns were not used in Australia which is not correct.

[Nick]

10 hours ago, ozjohn said:

True but the reply gave the impression that halfcrowns were not used in Australia which is not correct.

Did it?  I gave no reason at all.  Any impression taken was all your own work.

[ozjohn]

On 04/12/2017 at 7:54 PM, Nick said:

It could be any of the silver denominations except the halfcrown.  Size and/or colour needed.

I

 

26 minutes ago, Nick said:

Did it?  I gave no reason at all.  Any impression taken was all your own work.

What ever! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mentioned in your initial post.

[Nick]

23 minutes ago, ozjohn said:

mentioned in your initial post.

Where did I mention that halfcrowns were not used in Australia?  I simply stated that the coin in question could not be a halfcrown.