Piece of Eight 1652 Pendant

One of my favorite coins has a hole in it.
   I like that it has a hole in it. Someone found beauty in this coin and decided to wear it. The piece is sharply struck and full of details. It is smoothly worn, as if fingers fondled it while it hung from the neck. A coin like this -- broad, thick, all silver -- must have felt reassuring.
   This piece of eight was only minted for a short time -- a few months at best. It was produced in early 1652 at the Potosi mint, high up in the Andes in what is now Bolivia. During this year, a number of design changes were made in order to add as much information on the coin itself and to find the right aesthetic balance in doing so.
   For years before, there was malfeasance at the mint: debased and under-weight coins were the norm in the 1640s. Consequently, the officials charged with cleaning up the mint wanted to redesign the coins so that it was clear who the mint assayer was and when the coins were made. At the Potosi, the 1652 coins were at the center of what was to be called: "the great transition."
   This transition included arresting several mint officials. Some were jailed; as least two were executed. The coins were redesigned to depict the old pillar-and-waves motif that was first used in Mexico in 1536. Above the waves on this coin, the denomination "8" and assayer "E" was placed twice. The  motto "plus ultra" was added across the middle with the king's initial "F" for Phillip IIII in the top line. The date "ANO 1652" was placed within the inner rim of dots (a bit double-struck on this specimen). Yes, lots of data!

Eight Reales dated 1652. Holed and Loved.
And Loved still.

   This coin is known as a Type IV coin (there were eight types in all -- with many variations). It took until 2015 for all these types and subtypes to be cataloged by Robert Mastalir Divisek. His research shows that this coin is of the most common types with at least 118 known (he has pictured over 100 of them from auction records). As such, this coin is a rare one. But fortunately, the demand is low. Everyone wants Morgan dollars instead -- good!
   This particular coin was attractive enough to be worn. I doubt that it circulated much. Typically, the smaller fractional pieces were used for day to day transactions. A big piece like this must of felt good in the hand -- after all, it was about two weeks pay for most laborers.
   Most of the big eights like this one were shipped back to Spain; hence, the bulk of them come from shipwrecks. RMD has noted that two-thirds of all Type IV transitional eights come from sunken ships -- most from the Capitana that sunk in 1654. As such, this coin is a rare land-find. Still, it might look vaguely familiar to you: it is the plate coin in the Krause-Mishler catalogs.
   I wonder how long it was worn? And where? Did a Spanish official have it around his neck? Maybe a mine owner, or silver broker. Or, perhaps one of their wives. I suppose a mariner could have holed it? Hmmm, maybe it was on a galleon after all! It was not recorded as such.
   Of course, we can never know for sure. But what we do know is that it was singled out, holed, and worn in one way or another. This heavy piece is too big to be pinned inside a coat for use as money. No, it was no longer valued as money, but as a pendant of some sort.
   Yes, I like the hole. I like that this coin was always special to someone.
   Maybe I should wear it.

Loving the Unloved: Massachusetts Cent Pendant or Tool?

A pendant is a charm that can be worn, usually about the neck. In colonial times, coins were often fashioned into pendants. The quickest way: drill a hole and wear it.
   Today I want to share such a piece -- or at consider that this lowly cent was elevated to such a purpose.
   Here we have a Massachusetts cent from 1787 or 1788. It was drilled twice. A bold round hole was placed at the tail of the eagle (reverse) -- it was neatly located. The hole is smoothed and shows evidence of friction along the edges. There is some mild rim damage that suggests that the coin hung on a ring or chain.

Massachusetts cent, holed and worn smooth.

   A second hole, smaller but also neatly placed, was located at the opposite rim. It, too, has been there a while, but it is not has worn and still shows some raised metal from the punch.
   The precise placement of holes suggests that it was not randomly punched to be used as flange, cap, or mechanical use. It could have been used as a keyhole cover; then flipped and used again. Maybe.
   Could the cent have been used as a toy? Unlikely: tops and whizzers typically had two holes placed close together. Still, I'll give it another Maybe.
   Here's another guess. It could have been placed on a key chain to make carrying several keys easier. This is the inspiration for the photo. I give this one a big Maybe.
   Was the cent used twice as a pendant? This use is the most interesting possibility. Copper is certainly amulet or talisman material. Keep in mind that amulets are used for protection, whereas talisman are used to bring some benefit. Coins as pendants were commonplace in the eighteenth century.
   Also, then as now, coins were worn for medicinal purposes: everything from King's touch tokens to holed cents made by "wise" women. I know some elderly folks who wear copper to soothe their aching bones even today.
   Superstitions were prominent in early America. Often a penny would be nailed under the threshold of the front door to keep evil spirits out. Also, a penny nailed to a rafter could bring good fortune (good "speed" as they would say) to a family living there. These pieces are usually found in rough condition.
   In any case, this old Massachusetts cent is a curious item. It has a history of secondary use that lasted for decades. It appears to have been touched and rubbed many times, as the copper is worn smooth on both sides -- perhaps it became a pocket piece for awhile, or it was just fondled while hanging about the neck, or it was a key chain fob that witnessed much locking and unlocking.
   Either way, I believe my title is a misnomer. It was not unloved; it was loved. And I love it now.
 
 

Old Sails: Suffering the Winds

Some of the best ships can be found on Jetons.
   After the popularity of the counting board faded in the late 1500s, jetons morphed into propaganda pieces, souvenirs, and remuneration tokens. It was a clever move for the mint masters. As a result, some beautiful ships were launched.
   One of my favorite jetons is this softly worn piece dabbed with a reddish patina. It is made of brassy alloy common to the era. It was probably a pocket piece for several decades before being set aside and passed between collectors. I like to imagine the various owners who contemplated the ship -- perhaps wondering what it was like on the open seas, wondering where this particular ship was going, wondering about the New World. After all, the piece is nearly 400 years old!
   The ship style is familiar to jeton collectors, as the accentuated curve of the midships coupled with the stacked stern castle and bold, somewhat pointed, fore deck is characteristic of many French ship jetons of the era. The curved hull planking, bold with nails, is also of this style. The billowing sails complete the signature. The same artist likely did them all. A very similar ship can be seen on some Cardinal Richelieu pieces.

French Jeton from Dijon with caravel pitted against
winds blowing in both directions. The banner assures
the lone mariner that this ship is protected.

   I would classify the vessel as a caravel -- it has the classic U-shape. We are treated to port view, sailing away from us so that the stern rudder is clear. The sea is choppy and strong winds blow from both directions -- port and starboard. The clouds are personified with lips blowing. Of note, the sole mariner has a large presence and is clearly out of scale -- perhaps to show how alone a sailor can be in the sea and at the mercy of the winds.
   My interpretation of this is swayed by the legend which reads: TVRBANT. SED. EXTOLLVNT. The Vs are actually Us. The words (in Latin) translate to: "They agitate it, and they raise it." I checked the translation in French which was similar: "Distracting, but lifting." These phrases refer to the winds. Blowing one way and then another, we suffer them, and we depend on them. The phrase is biblical and comes from Job 30:22.
   The large banner, artfully weaved into the scene reads: HOC. SIDERBTVTVS. This one puzzles me. It translates to: "This (ship? Sea?) is safe or protected." Maybe it means that with faith, we are protected. I am not totally sure about this. And, I do not know if the sole sailor has a specific identity. Perhaps you have an opinion?
   Nonetheless, this jeton is a wonderful addition for the ship collector. It is the perfect period piece for the necromancer!

Collecting Jamestown: Part 5. Cuarto from Santo Domingo.

We have a crusty old coin to consider.

Here is the obverse with a crowned Y.

   This one will appeal to colonial collectors on at least two levels: it is the earliest Jamestown coin, AND it is among the first coins minted in the New World! Many collectors who seek out coins that were used in colonial North America have probably missed this one. But here it is!

   It is a Spanish Colonial cob of four maravedis. This copper piece was worth about one-fourth of a silver real -- hence, the name cuarto. However, values fluctuated widely over time. The relationship between silver and gold changed frequently, and the lowly maravedis was adjusted to account for this. In this regard, the denomination served as a unit of account. 

   Nonetheless, the four maravedis piece was never more than small change. I wonder how much rum it would buy -- certainly a few mouthfuls. Unfortunately, there was no rum in Jamestown.

   A cuarto just like the one pictured was dug from a blacksmith cellar in 2007 and is considered to be a relic of the early fort period -- probably before 1610. The piece was already a half-century old when lost, as it was minted in Santo Domingo between 1542 and 1556. 

   Other relics found nearby included a copper thimble, one bone die, a shell from Bermuda (a keepsake?), and many military items such as edged weapons, breastplates, even a helmet. Excavation of the cellar also produced two English farthings and a silver half-penny (but I will save these for a future posting).

Here is the reverse with the pillars of Hercules.

   It is no wonder that so many military items were found since the cellar is believed to be part of a metalworking shop. Armor and weapons were repaired and modified there. Later on, the cellar was refitted with two brick ovens and served as a bakery. All of this happened within the first few years of settlement.
   The building was labeled by the archeologists as Structure 183. It was unusual by modern standards, as it was all cellar with a low roof. As with many early fort structures, it was an earthfast building constructed by sinking poles in the ground.
   Getting back to our relic coin, the cuarto features a large Greek Y for Johanna. The Y is flanked by the assayer's initial (F) on the left and the denomination (IIII) on the right. It was minted under the direction of Francisco Rodriquez. The legend reads: KAROLVS.ET.IOANNA.REGIS. This translates to Charles and Joanna, Kings. Charles was the son of Johanna, and he assumed the crown in 1516 when Ferdinand died (father of Joanna). Joanna shared the throne but was too ill to govern. 

   The reverse shows the crowned Pillars of Hercules with the mint marks S and P. Some might wonder why not SD instead of SP -- Dan Sedwick has suggested that the original name was Santo Domingo del Puerto.

   This cuarto is a charming relic, sandblasted by Mother Nature and given a rusty tone. The central details are clear but the legends are gone. Irregular edges provide a primitive vibe. As such, this relic looks the part and is perfect. It is undoubtably filled with spirits! What a prize for the Jamestown collector and the necromancer. Now go find one!