Combe Martin Silver coins

[Paddy]

An historical query:

As posted elsewhere I recently acquired a 1739 Crown. When I showed it to a friend, who also collects, he immediately said that the 1739 coins were made from silver from the Combe Martin silver mines, which is fairly local to me here.

I have done a little research online and have found no mention of this. There is plenty about the Combe Martin silver being used for coins during the Civil War 1647-1648.

Anyone know any more or have any reference they can point me to?

A picture of the coin to make it more interesting:

[Paddy]

Over the Christmas break, with nothing better to do, I did a bit more research.

ESC confirms that the roses in angles silver of this period use silver from "The West of England".

Researching silver mines in the West, there are not too many options, and of these many were not operating in the 18th century. Only two areas seem to be working: Combe Martin and Cornwall. Cornwall's main focus was on tin and copper, though some silver was produced almost as a by-product. So it does seem that the bulk, if not all the silver in this 1739 Crown would have come from Combe Martin.

A nice little addendum to a pleasing coin.

 

[Coinery]

2 hours ago, Paddy said:

Over the Christmas break, with nothing better to do, I did a bit more research.

ESC confirms that the roses in angles silver of this period use silver from "The West of England".

Researching silver mines in the West, there are not too many options, and of these many were not operating in the 18th century. Only two areas seem to be working: Combe Martin and Cornwall. Cornwall's main focus was on tin and copper, though some silver was produced almost as a by-product. So it does seem that the bulk, if not all the silver in this 1739 Crown would have come from Combe Martin.

A nice little addendum to a pleasing coin.

 

A few enjoyable hours passed. You can’t not love a little bit o’ history like that!