在紐芬蘭和拉布拉多發現的古英國硬幣揭開了丘比特灣的歷史

在紐芬蘭和拉布拉多丘比特灣種植園省級歷史遺址的考古發掘中出土的一枚罕見的純銀幣引起了歷史學家的興奮。亨利七世統治時期的「半格朗」硬幣於 1493 年至 1499 年間鑄造，被認為是北美最古老的英國硬幣，為了解加拿大早期殖民時代提供了新的線索。

Ancient English Coin Discovery Unravels Echoes of History at Cupids Cove Plantation

丘比特灣種植園的古代英國硬幣發現揭開了歷史的迴響

In an extraordinary archaeological breakthrough, a rare English silver coin dating back to the reign of Henry VII has been unearthed at Newfoundland and Labrador's Cupids Cove Plantation Provincial Historic Site. This exceptional find, believed to be the oldest English coin ever discovered in North America, has captured the attention of historians and ignited a fervor of excitement among scholars.

這是一項非凡的考古突破，在紐芬蘭和拉布拉多的丘比特灣種植園省級歷史遺址出土了一枚罕見的英國銀幣，其歷史可以追溯到亨利七世統治時期。這項非凡的發現被認為是北美發現的最古老的英國硬幣，引起了歷史學家的注意，並激發了學者們的興奮。

William Gilbert, the seasoned archaeologist who first discovered the historic site in 1995 and continues to lead excavations as site supervisor, proclaimed the significance of this remarkable artifact. "Minted in Canterbury between 1493 and 1499, this coin is the oldest English specimen known to exist, surpassing any previous discoveries," Gilbert declared. "If there are indeed older English coins, I would be eager to learn of their whereabouts."

經驗豐富的考古學家威廉·吉爾伯特 (William Gilbert) 於 1995 年首次發現了這一歷史遺址，並作為遺址主管繼續領導發掘工作，他宣揚了這件非凡文物的重要性。 「這枚硬幣於 1493 年至 1499 年間在坎特伯雷鑄造，是已知存在的最古老的英國硬幣，超越了之前的任何發現，」吉爾伯特宣稱。 “如果確實有更古老的英國硬幣，我會很想知道它們的下落。”

Through meticulous examination, Paul Berry, former curator of the Bank of Canada's Currency Museum, identified the coin as a Henry VII "half groat," a two-penny piece that circulated widely during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. This groundbreaking discovery eclipses the previous record set by an Elizabethan coin excavated from the same site in 2001. However, the newly unearthed coin predates its predecessor by an astonishing 60 years, suggesting its circulation spanned over a century before it was lost.

加拿大銀行貨幣博物館前館長保羅·貝裡(Paul Berry) 經過仔細檢查，確定這枚硬幣是亨利七世的“半格羅特”硬幣，這是一種在15 世紀末和16 世紀初廣泛流通的兩便士硬幣。這項突破性的發現超越了2001 年在同一地點出土的伊麗莎白女王時代硬幣所創下的紀錄。多世紀才消失。

Gilbert's expert analysis suggests that the coin likely crossed the Atlantic Ocean with one of the early colonists who joined John Guy, a prominent merchant from Bristol, in establishing a settlement at Cupids in 1610. Gilbert's team is meticulously excavating the northeast end of a substantial 120-foot by 90-foot structure constructed by the colonists.

吉爾伯特的專家分析表明，這枚硬幣很可能是與一位早期殖民者一起穿越大西洋的，他於1610 年與布里斯托爾的著名商人約翰·蓋伊(John Guy) 一起在丘比特建立了定居點。

"Our excavations have revealed the remains of a 'flanker,' essentially a bastion extending beyond the corner of the enclosure," Gilbert explained. "This fortification would have housed a cannon, providing a strategic vantage point overlooking the harbor."

吉爾伯特解釋說：“我們的挖掘工作發現了‘側翼’的遺跡，本質上是一個延伸到圍牆角落之外的堡壘。” “這座防禦工事將安置一門大砲，提供俯瞰港口的戰略有利位置。”

The coin's precise location, approximately four feet east of the wall and four feet south of the flanker, provides tantalizing clues. Gilbert speculates that it may have been accidentally dropped by John Guy or one of the early colonists during the construction of the wall and flanker in the fall of 1610.

這枚硬幣的精確位置位於城牆以東約四英尺處，側翼以南約四英尺處，提供了誘人的線索。吉爾伯特推測，它可能是約翰蓋伊 (John Guy) 或一位早期殖民者在 1610 年秋天建造城牆和側翼時意外掉落的。

Beyond its intrinsic historical value, the coin's presence at Cupids, Canada's oldest English colony, raises intriguing questions. "The timing of this find is particularly remarkable," Gilbert observed. "The coin's minting coincides with the period when John Cabot arrived in England in 1495, initiating the era of European exploration in North America."

除了其內在的歷史價值之外，這枚硬幣在加拿大最古老的英國殖民地丘比特的存在也引發了一些有趣的問題。 「這項發現的時機特別引人注目，」吉爾伯特觀察到。 “這枚硬幣的鑄造恰逢約翰·卡伯特 (John Cabot) 於 1495 年抵達英國，開啟了歐洲人探索北美的時代。”

This serendipitous discovery weaves a compelling narrative that spans centuries, connecting the dots between the age of discovery, the establishment of the first English colony in Canada, and the lost treasure that has now resurfaced. To date, Gilbert's team has meticulously uncovered approximately 170,000 artifacts at the Cupids Cove Plantation site, but the silver coin stands as the most extraordinary find to date.

這一偶然的發現編織了一個跨越幾個世紀的引人入勝的故事，將發現時代、加拿大第一個英國殖民地的建立以及現在重新浮出水面的失落寶藏之間的點點滴滴聯繫起來。迄今為止，吉爾伯特的團隊已在丘比特灣種植園遺址精心發掘出約 17 萬件文物，但銀幣是迄今為止最非凡的發現。

Gilbert envisions a captivating display for the coin, tentatively scheduled for next year, allowing the public to marvel at its historical significance. He emphasizes the transformative power of such discoveries, transcending their mere utility as historical remnants.

吉伯特設想，暫定於明年對這枚硬幣進行引人入勝的展示，讓大眾驚嘆於它的歷史意義。他強調這些發現的改變力量，超越了它們作為歷史遺蹟的單純用途。

"These artifacts are not simply relics of the past," Gilbert stated with conviction. "They are catalysts for our imagination, connecting us to not only the specific colony of 1610 but to the broader tapestry of the age of discovery. They empower us to envision the voyages, the struggles, and the triumphs of those who ventured into these uncharted waters, forever etching their mark on the fabric of our history."

「這些文物不僅僅是過去的遺物，」吉爾伯特堅信地說。 「它們是我們想像的催化劑，不僅將我們與1610 年的具體殖民地聯繫起來，而且將我們與大發現時代的更廣闊的掛毯聯繫起來。它們使我們能夠想像那些冒險進入這些未知領域的人們的航行、鬥爭和勝利。