whats the copper pug for on the early tin pieces?

[scott]

always wondered this.

1 - why is it there

2 - does this make it the first bi-metalic coins in the world?

just seems an odd thing to do, i dont see it as tracking, as tin is actually a grey colour, and in a decent state looks quite nice , helps with identification but then the designs were differant from irish pieces anyway

[Rob]

always wondered this.

1 - why is it there

2 - does this make it the first bi-metalic coins in the world?

just seems an odd thing to do, i dont see it as tracking, as tin is actually a grey colour, and in a decent state looks quite nice , helps with identification but then the designs were differant from irish pieces anyway

1. As a security feature to make it harder to imitate. Copies of these tended to be cast and so you will find the imprint of the copper plug, but a coin that is tin throughout. contemporary forgery tin 1/2d

2. No. The Charles 1 rose farthings were before the Charles II etc. tin issues. Peck (2nd.ed. p.74) considers that they were made from what was clearly a copper rod with an axial wedge of brass inserted into a cut, then presumably squeezed together to hold the brass and sliced to obtain the individual blanks. I don't know if there were other issues elsewhere prior to them though. Here is a Rose farthing which clearly shows the brass wedge.