About This Coin
A large copper coin with green patina, recovered by metal detection expert Gary Drayton on Lot 25 at the Samuel Ball foundation during Season 8. Rick Lagina was also present during the search, which was conducted under a heritage permit arranged by archaeologist Laird Niven. Gary estimated the coin dated to the 1730s or 1740s and suggested it was possibly a British penny based on its size.
The coin was found alongside an ornate cane topper, riding crop topper, or military swagger stick topper bearing a crown and rose design that Gary considered consistent with 1700s English craftsmanship. Doug Crowell confirmed the rose and crown as a symbol of the English monarchy dating to 1485. Historian Sarah MacInnes of the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site confirmed that ox shoes found on the property matched specimens in Louisbourg's archaeological collection, connecting the site to the mid-18th-century French military compound.
Historical Context
Gary Drayton, Rick Lagina; The Curse of Oak Island Season 8 Episode 17
Where It Was Found
Found at Lot 25, Samuel Ball foundation — Oak Island, Nova Scotia, Canada.
