A Man Browsing at a Flea Market Unknowingly Stumbled Upon a Rare Piece of History—a Coin Dating Back to 1806.

Reddit user JoeTheGimp was searching through a bucket of old coins for sale in Huddersfield, in the U.K., when an unusual-looking piece caught his attention

A man browsing at a flea market unknowingly stumbled upon a rare piece of history—a coin dating back to 1806.

While the seller had the coins in a bucket, hoping to sell them cheaply, one slip knotter bought a coin for 20p (about 25 cents) more out of curiosity.

After making the chance purchase at the market in Huddersfield, in the U.K., hoping to learn more about his discovery, shared it in the subreddit "coins."

“I'd not seen anything like it and it just seemed really interesting. Turns out it's a 1806 Bahamas Penny; they were made in Birmingham, UK, to commemorate Captain Woodes Rogers' victory over pirates. The coins were approved by the Bahamas Assembly and commissioned by the Soho Mint in Birmingham to be made in 1806. A total of £500 worth (approximately 120,000 coins) were minted and sent to the Bahamas for circulation. The bronze-colored coins, which are pierced with a hole, feature a ship with the inscription "Bahama" alongside the Latin phrase "Expulsis Piratis Restituta Commercia." The other side of the coin bears the inscription "Georgius III D:G. REX 06" and depicts King George III.

The coins' obverse is identical to the 1806 British coinage but the reverse is unique to the Bahamas. The coins feature a small open-chained pendant at the top of the reverse and were originally struck without any wear on the high points.

This coin appears to be in used condition with a small amount of wear on the high points and a large hole bored through the center. It is likely that the coins were bored through in the Bahamas to reduce their value when compared to British coins of the period.

The coins also feature the motto of the Bahamas at this time, which translates as "Pirates having been expelled, commerce is restored."

This raises the question of whether the coin was explicitly commemorating or simply featuring the national motto. A slip knotter has shared his serendipitous tale of discovering a historical coin at a flea market for a mere 20p.

While the seller had the coins in a bucket, hoping to sell them cheaply, one slip knotter bought a coin for 20p (about 25 cents) more out of curiosity.

After making the chance purchase at the market in Huddersfield, in the U.K., hoping to learn more about his discovery, shared it in the subreddit "coins."

This coin appears to be in used condition with a small amount of wear on the high points and a large hole bored through the center. It is likely that the coins were bored through in the Bahamas to reduce their value when compared to British coins of the period.

The coins also feature the motto of the Bahamas at this time, which translates as "Pirates having been expelled, commerce is restored."

This raises the question of whether the coin was explicitly commemorating or simply featuring the national motto. A slip knotter has shared his serendipitous tale of discovering a historical coin at a flea market for a mere 20p.

While the seller had the coins in a bucket, hoping to sell them cheaply, one slip knotter bought a coin for 20p (about 25 cents) more out of curiosity.

After making the chance purchase at the market in Huddersfield, in the U.K., hoping to learn more about his discovery, shared it in the subreddit "coins."

This coin appears to be in used condition with a small amount of wear on the high points and a large hole bored through the center. It is likely that the coins were bored through in the Bahamas to reduce their value when compared to British coins of the period.

The coins also feature the motto of the Bahamas at this time, which translates as "Pirates having been expelled, commerce is restored."

This raises the question of whether the coin was explicitly commemorating or simply featuring the national motto.