A special coin worth thousands of dollars was recently discovered at the bottom of a toffee tin. This exciting find happened at Wotton Auction Rooms, an auction house located in Gloucestershire, England.
The Discovery
The auction house was evaluating items brought in by a private seller when they found the coin. Joseph Trinder, the auctioneer, explained that this coin is a continental dollar made of pewter. It measures 38 mm across and was minted in 1776, the year America declared its independence.
The Importance of the Find
Trinder shared that this coin is one of the most exciting discoveries in his career. He said, “This coin represents a discovery that is in the top five of my career to date, and the sort of thing every auctioneer hopes they’ll find.” Its rarity makes it very special.
Verification Process
To confirm that the coin is real, it was sent to the Numismatic Guaranty Company in Sarasota, Florida. There, specialists examined it, X-rayed it, and performed other tests. Trinder was thrilled to announce that they verified its authenticity just a few days ago.
Auction Details
The 1776 continental dollar will be auctioned on October 3. Wotton Auction Rooms has not found any records of another similar coin in the U.K. This coin was just one of the items found in a collection that also included jewelry, carved stones, and fossils.
Trinder noted, “We had a jolly good look through and made sure we got to the bottom of everything inside.” He mentioned that they found many interesting items, including gold coins, but the continental dollar coin was the most exciting treasure discovered.
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Conclusion
The discovery of this 1776 continental dollar coin is not just a lucky find; it represents an important piece of history. Coins like this tell us stories about our past, especially the American fight for independence. The excitement of finding such a rare item in a toffee tin makes it even more special. People interested in history and coin collecting will surely be watching closely when this coin goes up for auction.
FAQ’s
What is a continental dollar?
A continental dollar is a type of coin that was made in 1776 during the American Revolution. It was used as a form of currency.
How many continental dollars were made?
Only 6,000 continental dollars were minted, and today, only about 100 are still around.
Where was this coin found?
The coin was found at the bottom of a toffee tin in Gloucestershire, England, during an evaluation of items at an auction house.