Amateur treasure hunter’s shilling discovery could rewrite Canadian history

[ashling]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/04/amateur-treasure-hunters-shilling-discovery-could-rewrite-canadian-history/


An amateur treasure hunter with a hand-held metal detector has turned Canadian history on its head after finding a 16th-century shilling buried in clay on the shores of Vancouver Island.

The 435-year-old coin discovered in western-most Canada has rekindled a theory that a British explorer made a secret voyage here two centuries before it was discovered by Spanish sailors.

Official historical records show the Spanish were the first Europeans to set foot in what is now Canada’s British Columbia province in 1774, followed four years later by British Royal Navy Captain James Cook.

[Recursion]

1. Henry VIII's fishermen knew the Grand Banks

Personally, I think the reason he didn't fund Columbus's voyage (Christopher went to Henry first) was because he knew perfectly well there was a continent there and he wanted to keep that cat in the bag.

[dr.strangelove]

5. I think you mean his dad, Henry VII

Henry the VIII was an infant when Columbus "discovered" the "new" world. He did not become King until 1509.
I am not sure about the commercial fishing of the Grand Banks before Columbus, but its certainly possible. Henry VII sent Cabot out to document and map the area in 1497, so he certainly knew something about the area. Its a cool theory that he wanted to keep his fishing stocks a secret, but I just don;t know enough about commercial fishing in that era to know if that could be valid. Cool idea though. Thanks, something to think about.

[eppur_se_muova]

6. "He has had a long journey here and miscounted... "

Lord North: Your Majesty... Louis XVIII is here!

George III: Who is Louis XVIII?

Lord North: The King of France, Your Majesty! This is a great moment to have, sir.

George III: There is no Louis XVIII.

(We hear a Scottish voice outside the door. Lord North ducks his head out for a moment, then reappears.)

Lord North: He craves Your Majesty's pardon. He has had a long journey here and miscounted... He is Louis XVII.

http://www.montypython.net/scripts/georgeIII.php

[Recursion]

8. You're right, thanks (nt)

[applegrove]

2. What are the odds of that very first

british explorer droping a shilling? Amazing.

[Art_from_Ark]

3. I would say it is far more likely a coin collector dropped it,

especially after reading this part:

"Retired security systems installer Bruce Campbell found the coin in mid-December, along with a rare 1891 Canadian nickel, a 1960s dime and penny from 1900."

It sounds like Mr. Campbell merely found a coin collector's stash.

[applegrove]

4. That makes so much more sense. I had

not read the link.

[Art_from_Ark]

10. By the way, there is no such thing an 1891 Canadian "nickel"

The 5-cent coins coins that were produced in Canada in 1891 were tiny things that were made out of silver.

Now if it were a *1921* Canadian nickel, THEN it would be a major find!

[eppur_se_muova]

7. Yep. Heterochthonous, not autochthonous. nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

9. Huh. Lost that last week.

I'd like it back, please.

[Brother Buzz]

11. Cool, now go out and find the brass plate that coin was originally affixed to and throw it on eBay