unidentifiable coin?

[ren 0]

Hi everyone!

I found this coin on an archaeological site in Toronto Canada and we're having a probably identifying it. Its pretty damaged. Only one side is visible with what looks like a sitting person but its still pretty difficult to make out. I was wondering if anyone knew about where is comes from and how old it is. Looking at some of the forgeries i felt it might be a George III coin. Any information at all would be better than what we got!

thanks,

ren

[Chris Perkins 228]

It looks very much like the Britannia on the reverse of the 1806/07 halfpennies. What's the size in mm?

It's about the worst one I've ever seen!

[ren 0]

Its about 28.5 mm.... its not perfectly round, but then again i don't know how perfect these coins were made! It also weighs 8 grams... don't know if that is relevant

[Red Riley 2]

Its about 28.5 mm.... its not perfectly round, but then again i don't know how perfect these coins were made! It also weighs 8 grams... don't know if that is relevant

Yep, it's an 1806-7 halfpenny. Were they ever legal tender in Canada?

[ren 0]

so is it George III?

[HistoricCoinage 146]

Yep.

[ren 0]

thanks so much for your help!

and to answer your question, yes they were legal tender, among many other coins from other countries, in canada until of course we got our own! it is quite interesting actually, the history of coins in canada. This link was pretty helpful for me if you have some spare time to read it!

http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/FB2-14-1999E.pdf

[scottishmoney 34]

United States coins circulated in Canada from well before the Confederation, just about anything that could pass for money circulated there, including some strange things like playing cards during the French era in Quebec. I have never had a problem spending US$ there, and now lately I don't have a problem spending Canadian $ in the US because the C$ is near or worth the same as the US$. I get Canadian change on a daily basis, very common here, yesterday I got a Saskatchewan 25¢ that I had not seen before, usually I get just the moose 25¢ coins.

[Chris Perkins 228]

I always check the exchange rate because of the GBP/EUR relationship and I have noticed that the CAD was about the same as the US$. Do you live near Canada Scottishmoney or are both currencies simply accepted everywhere in both countries? Even in small shops?

[scottishmoney 34]

I am about 100km from the border, but near a shopping destination that readily accepts Canadian funds and has for some time now. So Canadian $'s are accepted in banks etc. The change circulates like any other coin, I just got a Saskatchewan commem 25¢ coin on Thursday, but I get probably 25-30% Canadian change in any transaction here locally. Which is kind of cool too, because it is possible to find older Canadian cents, like the 1920 earlier in the week, or 5¢ like the 1961 YH last week.