Cape May, New Jersey Treasure
In the years 1999-2003 Cape May beaches were eroding at a extremely fast pace. This opened the door for the best coinshooting in years. For 5 years I went every other weekend and detected one of the oldest areas in the country dating back to 1640. Little do people know that the west side of Cape May was inhabited by some of the same famlies that came off the Mayflower. This area which in the 17th &18th century was a thriving beach resort and was taken under the waves by years of numerous storms. Early in 1999 I started finding Indian Head pennies dating from 1874-1897 and they seemed to be coming in with the black sand. Next year I was finding silver war coins 1860-1865. Now that the beaches were quickly eroding I found older coins, 1787 NEW Jersey Colonial coin in a dune wall close to the clay base.
Then came the oldest coins I ever found and they were a 1675 English Farthing, 1717 English 1/2 Penny. They have been donated and are in the Museum at Cape May Light House and are on display. Beach replenishment stopped any further coinshooting on these beaches but mother nature will be back !!
Awesome. I love hearing stories like that. Your finds are incredible too !! Thanks for sharing.
Nice hunting Colonial!!!
"This area which in the 17th &18th century was a thriving beach resort and was taken under the waves by years of numerous storms."
Oops! The area you refer to is the Delaware Bay coast? It was settled by New Englanders, poor whalers, farmers, foresters and boat builders. Define the original word 'resort' and you find that city folks had to get out of Philadelphia due to the plagues of the 1790s. Unpaved roads, washed out bridges and long distance meant the visitors from the largest city in America's new republic took sailing boats to enjoy the more salubrious environment near the Atlantic. They 'resorted' to a better place, if they could afford it. 'Vacation' is a similar word. One would 'vacate' their dangerous home place and 'resort' to a safer place. When ships ran into trouble before and even after the lighthouse was built they were broken up by wave action and their cargo, including coins would take many generations and storms to be washed up on the land. Remember that European coins stayed in circulation for many decades, especially British coins. Their stability of value was based on the Crown (King or Queen) government, even after Charles I was executed. It was Charles II who gave land patents (not deeds) to William Pen and others who supported him in re-taking the throne.
Sounds like a great beach to hunt on,sounds like you have done your research as well. Keep us posted to your finds.
"This area which in the 17th &18th century was a thriving beach resort and was taken under the waves by years of numerous storms."
Oops! The area you refer to is the Delaware Bay coast? It was settled by New Englanders, poor whalers, farmers, foresters and boat builders. Define the original word 'resort' and you find that city folks had to get out of Philadelphia due to the plagues of the 1790s. Unpaved roads, washed out bridges and long distance meant the visitors from the largest city in America's new republic took sailing boats to enjoy the more salubrious environment near the Atlantic. They 'resorted' to a better place, if they could afford it. 'Vacation' is a similar word. One would 'vacate' their dangerous home place and 'resort' to a safer place. When ships ran into trouble before and even after the lighthouse was built they were broken up by wave action and their cargo, including coins would take many generations and storms to be washed up on the land. Remember that European coins stayed in circulation for many decades, especially British coins. Their stability of value was based on the Crown (King or Queen) government, even after Charles I was executed. It was Charles II who gave land patents (not deeds) to William Pen and others who supported him in re-taking the throne.