Mick in Dubbo
New member
I had the privilege tonight to attend our local library (called the Macquarie Library) to see a presentation on the anniversary of 200 years since Governor Macquarie's Governorship commenced. The Library like the local river and plenty of places around here and Sydney also carry his name. It was presented by the senior curator of the State library from Sydney.
He brought with him original documents from the time, as well as the first 2 coins of our currency, the Holy dollar and the Dump. It was Governor Macquarie's idea to create a currency that could be used in Australia, as we had none till this point. He bought in 40 000 Spanish dollars and had the centre punched out to create a second less valuable coin (the Dump). By having the centre punched out, made these coins worthless if taken away from here. The larger coin was called the Holy dollar and was rated as 5 shillings, the dump was worth 15 pennies. The larger coin is about 40mm in size (about an inch and a half), while the Dump, is about the size of a sixpence (close in size to a zinc penny). They were made of silver. Of the 40 000 coins that were put into circulation, there are now less than 300 holy dollars known to still be in existence today! The indicated price for one in good condition is around AUD $100 000 (US $86 000). Now THAT"S a coin I'd love to find under my coil!!!! I wonder where on the metre they would be? If anybody has ever detected a very large silver coin like the Spanish dollar (reale?) I'd very very interested to know? Thanks. I'd guess that it may register around 11.5. or possibly 11. I don't care what detector you've gone over one, but would be interested where it comes in at in relation to other larger silver coins.
I must confess that I pressed the Curator on where exactly some of our earliest settlements were at that time. (our national population was only 13 000 then). I did get a possible location that I might even get a coil over,maybe!
One can't let an opportunity like that slide past, can I?
Mick Evans.
He brought with him original documents from the time, as well as the first 2 coins of our currency, the Holy dollar and the Dump. It was Governor Macquarie's idea to create a currency that could be used in Australia, as we had none till this point. He bought in 40 000 Spanish dollars and had the centre punched out to create a second less valuable coin (the Dump). By having the centre punched out, made these coins worthless if taken away from here. The larger coin was called the Holy dollar and was rated as 5 shillings, the dump was worth 15 pennies. The larger coin is about 40mm in size (about an inch and a half), while the Dump, is about the size of a sixpence (close in size to a zinc penny). They were made of silver. Of the 40 000 coins that were put into circulation, there are now less than 300 holy dollars known to still be in existence today! The indicated price for one in good condition is around AUD $100 000 (US $86 000). Now THAT"S a coin I'd love to find under my coil!!!! I wonder where on the metre they would be? If anybody has ever detected a very large silver coin like the Spanish dollar (reale?) I'd very very interested to know? Thanks. I'd guess that it may register around 11.5. or possibly 11. I don't care what detector you've gone over one, but would be interested where it comes in at in relation to other larger silver coins.
I must confess that I pressed the Curator on where exactly some of our earliest settlements were at that time. (our national population was only 13 000 then). I did get a possible location that I might even get a coil over,maybe!
One can't let an opportunity like that slide past, can I?Mick Evans.