Expert: Brad Swain - 3/19/2010

Question
Sorry about the lack of some info on my last question, the coin was found in NE North Carolina in a farm field.  It is slightly larger than a US quarter.  No sign of a date and the letters on both sides are scant and pretty much unreadable. One odd thing is that it says 5 cent (without an S on cent) on the reverse surrounded by a wreath. The 5 is on top of the word cent. Jim

Answer
Hi Jim, a very cool find! It is a French Colonies (Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Caribbean) copper 5 centimes (cent.) featuring King Louis Philippe I (1830-48). The date is below the wreath, 1839, 1841, 1843 or 1844. It looks like a 9 to me so 1839. There were 600,000 minted in Paris that year. Collector value (without the history behind it) may be worth about $1 with that amount of wear.
http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/Fr_Colonies.php
It would seem an imported slave likely dropped it in the field while working. History, there!
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Glad I could help with this piece of history,
Brad