Exceptionally rare American coin found in Britain



LONDON, Oct. 8 (AP) — A 351-year-old coin, one of the first ever minted in
colonial America, has been found in Britain, an auction house said Wednesday.
The rare New England silver sixpence turned up when relatives of a
deceased British man were rummaging through his belongings. They sent it to an
expert for identification.


''It just came through the post in an unregistered envelope but when I opened it
I recognized the sixpence straight away and my heart leapt. It is exceedingly
rare and a very exciting find,'' said Rick Coleman, the senior valuer at Bonhams
auctioneers.
He said that the silver coin is about the size of a penny with ''NE'' for
New England stamped on one side and ''VI'' on the other. It is one of only nine
New England silver sixpences known to exist, all minted in Boston in 1652.
''It is very hot stuff,'' said Robert W. Hoge, curator of American coins
and currency at the American Numismatic Society in New York.
''This is the first coin to be struck in what is now the U.S., and the
first coin to be struck in a British colony.
Bonhams expects their sixpence to sell for around $33,200 to $41,500.



Gar Travis ANS-10015
www.numisconsult.com

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