An English gold coin, minted in the 1420s and recently found on the province’s south coast, is believed to be the oldest English coin ever found on Canadian soil. Provincial archaeologist Jamie Brake calls Edward Hines’ discovery a “big deal.” The coin was found on a beach near a known archaeological site. Brake says they are looking into the possibility of further research in the area. He considers the way Hynes handled the discovery and acknowledged that the findings are protected under the Historic Resources Act. Brake can’t say for sure how a coin of this age ended up on a beach in Newfoundland. Brake will not reveal where the discovery was made to preserve the integrity of the site, but says there is a known Basque presence in the area along with an English presence in the early 18th century. The coin has been identified as a noble quarter of Henry VI, struck in London between 1422 and 1427. The earliest previously discovered coin in Newfoundland was a silver coin struck in the 1490s and discovered at Cuper’s Cove Plantation in Cupids.
