My strange experience with Martin Coles Harman and his Puffin!

[Neil]

About six years ago I had another bizzare detecting experience. I've mentioned it before, but it was when DW first started so I'll tell it again.

I was due to go detecting with my long standing detecting buddies Mark & Jaydogg, and as I had woke up a bit early I was trawlling the web looking at unusual coins. I chanced across a "Puffin Coin" from Lundy Island and paid little notice to it. Set off from Cardiff and met Mark and Jaydogg in a field in the middle of nowhere just as the sun was rising.

We walked into the field and I immediately got a signal a few feet from the gate. First signal of the day from my trusty Muskateer that I was using in those days. Sounded like a coin and soon I had in my hand what I first thought was a Vicky Penny. It had a strange head on it though.

Clearing a bit more of the mud, I could see it said "One Puffin" and I immediately knew what it was!

Before that morning I had never heard of a Lundy Island Puffin coin or even of Marin Coles Harman. I have never seen one as a detecting find since and I doubt I will ever find one again. They are not overly scarce, but rare enough for it to send a few shivers down my spine. I call it devine destiny!

In 1924, the Christie family sold Lundy island along with the mail contract and the MV Lerina to Martin Coles Harman, who proclaimed himself a king. Harman issued two coins of Half Puffin and One Puffin denominations in 1929, nominally equivalent to the British halfpenny and penny, resulting in his prosecution under the United Kingdom's Coinage Act of 1870. The House of Lords found him guilty in 1931, and he was fined £5 with fifteen guineas expenses. The coins were withdrawn and became collectors' items.

[dances with badgers]

trawl the web and look at gold coins before you leave next time neil. what are the odds on that hapening. i think someone is looking down on you mate.

[NickDavies]

Good experience there Neil, and a collecters item coin, hold on to that one lol