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13.06.2021 6:11:04
CoinQuest thanks CoinAuctionsHelp and Stack's Bowers for use of their images of valuable original coins.
See full version: What is a hog penny currency
CoinQuest thanks CoinAuctionsHelp and Stack's Bowers for use of their images of valuable original coins.
Recently, detectorists scouring the sands of Bermuda have uncovered a few of the early coins. They are tremendously valuable, even in worn and corroded condition. Brass coins do not do well when buried in sand soaked in tropical sea water! more
In 1609, Sir George Somers, a British colonist from Virginia, was shipwrecked on the Bermuda Islands for 10 months. By 1612 there were 60 colonists on the Islands and the earliest brass 'hogge money' coins were hand struck in 2, 3, 6, and 12 pence (12 pence equals 1 shilling). An Internet search quickly uncovers detailed histories of these unique and interesting coins.
Not surprisingly, modern reproductions of these coins have been made. Notably Dickeson and Bashlow copies have emerged and garnered a collector following. Our composite image below summarizes a few of these pieces.
(A) Original shilling (XII), worth tens of thousands of US dollars
(B) Original sixpence (VI), worth tens of thousands of US dollars
(C) Original shilling, worth thousands of US dollars even in condition shown
(D) Dickeson reproduction, worth $200 US dollars worn to $800 or more uncirculated
(E) Bashlow restrike with 'mule' reverse, worth $10 worn to $100 fully uncirculated
(F) Nice reproduction, worth $10 to $50
(G) Crude reproduction shilling, worth $5 to $20
(H) Crude reproduction sixpence, worth $5 to $20 [links]
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The Bermuda Islands were named after Juan de Bermúdez, who first landed there in 1505. Little did Bermúdez realize this discovery would later save his life. In 1532, while on his way to Cuba, Bermúdez was shipwrecked near these islands and, because of his knowledge of the area, he was able to safely make it to shore. Apparently on this second voyage he had several live hogs as cargo, some of whom were saved and over time proliferated throughout the islands. A century later, in 1609, an English ship the Sea Adventurer, left Plymouth, England, with eight other ships to head for the Virginia plantation. On July 25th, as they neared their destination, the Sea Adventurer was separated from the small fleet by a hurricane and three days later ended up in the Bermuda Islands, which were then known as the Bermoothes or the Hogge Islands. The crew remained on the islands for several months, claiming the land for England and constructing two new boats. On May 10, 1610, the new boats were completed and the crew finally departed for Virginia. About a month later on June 19, 1610, one of the original crew, Sir George Sommers, was persuaded to return to the islands where he died in 1611. Soon thereafter the islands were renamed the Sommer Islands.
The Sommer Islands tokens were the first English coinage made for use in the Americas. The weight/value ratio of the coins was based on a weight of tobacco, not the weight of the metal, thus the metal content was far below the stated value on the coin. Based on Breen the weight variations are as follows: large sales shilling 73.6-107 grains; small sale shilling 63.5-177 grains; large portholes sixpence 33.6-58.5 grains; small portholes sixpence 36-63.1 grains; threepence 21.6-23.7 grains (based on the British Museum and the heavier Norweb examples only); large star twopence 16-21.2 grains; and the small star twopence 19.5-26.9 grains. These crude, light weight coins were not well received and went out of use by 1624. After their experience with this so-called "Hogge money," Bermuda did not have another coin of its own until the 1793 copper penny which was produced in Birmingham at Boulton's Soho Mint. After 1793, no other coins were produced in Bermuda until the commemorative crowns of 1959 and 1964. It was not until 1970, with the introduction of decimal system in the United Kingdom, that Bermuda began regularly minting coins. Interestingly, the current Bermuda cent depicts a hog on the reverse. here
Latest revision: April 26, 1999 [links]
Hodder went on to state this is still only a theory. He suggested roller presses usually produced more die varieties that we find in the Sommer Island coinage; there are only five obverse and six reverse dies known for the entire series (two obverses for the twopence and two reverses each for the shilling and sixpence). With roller dies one would expect at least two to four different obverse and reverse dies per denomination, as there would usually be more than a single impression on a roller (assuming different rollers for each denomination). Also, coins stamped between roller dies usually appear somewhat bent (either convex or concave depending on the side you choose), as the coins are slightly bent as they come out of the rollers; but this does not seem to be the case with the Sommer Islands coins. The presence of a beveled edge on a single example is interesting but certainly is not conclusive in formulating a theory on the method of minting for this series. Further research is needed to determine the actual method used to produce these coins. more
By 1615 a colony was founded on the islands. However, having no available currency, the colonists resorted to using tobacco as legal tender, as had been done in Virginia. Then on June 20, 1615, in order to encourage commerce, James I granted the plantation permission to produce coinage. The governor of the islands, Richard Tucker, arranged for an English mint to produce the coinage. To keep the coins from being exported out of the islands they were intentionally made in a crude fashion from a low-grade, brassy copper. Their appearance was enhanced by a thin wash of silver, which unfortunately did not hold up well in the salty Bermuda environment. Made in denominations of two, three, six, and twelve pence, the obverse showed a hog with the denomination in roman numerals above the animal and the legend "SOMMER ISLANDS" within two circles of beads (the two and threepence coins have only a single circle of beads and lack the legend). The reverse displayed a ship, probably the Sea Adventurer, with a single circle of beads around the border and no legend (the two and threepence denominations have an S to the left of the ship and an I to the right for Sommer Islands). From the few well preserved examples we do know there are shilling varieties with either large or small sails and sixpence varieties with either large or small portholes. Also, Breen has discovered there are small "secret" marks visible on the obverse under the hog, probably identification marks of the diemaker. These marks are as follows: on the shilling there is a single pellet between the front and rear feet; on the sixpence a diamond shaped group of pellets between the front and rear legs; on the threepence there are four pellets in a square with another pellet in the center, this design is found in front of the forefeet; and on the twopence there is a star between the front and rear legs. He also noticed the twopence came in two varieties, one variety being distinguished by a larger star and also having the second I in the denoination II being lower that the first, with the other variety having a smaller star and the II in the denomination being of equal height.
For reprints of two 1877 articles on Hogge money see, The Colonial Newsletter 5 (March 1965, serial no. 14), 136-41; also see, Robert Chalmers, History of Currency in the British Colonies (London: n.p., 1893), 150-51; Walter Breen, "Weights of Sommer Islands Coins," The Colonial Newsletter, vol.16, no. 3 (November 1977, serial no. 50), 612; also Breen, 9-11 for updated weights and much information; references to Hodder refer to The Norweb Collection: Part 1 Early American and U.S. Coins, a public auction sale of October 12 and 13, 1987 in New York City by Bowers and Merena Inc., Wolfboro, N.H.: Bowers and Merena, 1987, pp. 323-327, lots 1140-1145 (on p. 10 of the catalog L. Arlin, R. Bagg, M. Hodder, D. Bowers, R. Merena and T. Becker are listed as the catalogers, I assume the colonial introductions and descriptions are by Hodder).
Latest revision: April 26, 1999
The first circulation coins of the Bermudian dollar were introduced in 1970 in denominations of 1, 1 and 5 dollar pieces. With the exception of the two higher-valued coins, which were only produced during a single year, each of the pieces of the first series was minted until 1985.
The .917 gold and .925 silver 1 cent pieces have the same diameter and thickness as their circulating counterparts, but respectively weigh 6.2 and 3.7 grams. They have medallic alignment and a plain edge, and are round in shape. Both rims of each piece are raised and undecorated. here
On August 8 , British Israeli artist Raphael David Maklouf (1937–), the new likeness of the queen started appearing on currency of the United Kingdom and various British Overseas Territories and steel during part of 1988, and copper-plated George IV State Diadem on her head, an earring in her left ear, and a necklace on her neck. Engraved in the likeness near the bust truncation are the "RDM" initials of the designer. The state title "BERMUDA" is inscribed clockwise along the rim to the left of the portrait, while the caption "ELIZABETH II" appears in the same direction at the periphery to the right. more