在纽芬兰和拉布拉多发现的古英国硬币揭开了丘比特湾的历史

在纽芬兰和拉布拉多丘比特湾种植园省级历史遗址的考古发掘中出土的一枚罕见的纯银币引起了历史学家的兴奋。亨利七世统治时期的“半格朗”硬币于 1493 年至 1499 年间铸造，被认为是北美最古老的英国硬币，为了解加拿大早期殖民时代提供了新的线索。

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

丘比特湾种植园的古代英国硬币发现揭开了历史的回声

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.

这是一项非凡的考古突破，在纽芬兰和拉布拉多的丘比特湾种植园省级历史遗址出土了一枚罕见的英国银币，其历史可以追溯到亨利七世统治时期。这一非凡的发现被认为是北美发现的最古老的英国硬币，引起了历史学家的注意，并激发了学者们的兴奋。

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."

经验丰富的考古学家威廉·吉尔伯特 (William Gilbert) 于 1995 年首次发现了这一历史遗址，并作为遗址主管继续领导发掘工作，他宣扬了这件非凡文物的重要性。 “这枚硬币于 1493 年至 1499 年间在坎特伯雷铸造，是已知存在的最古老的英国硬币，超越了之前的任何发现，”吉尔伯特宣称。 “如果确实有更古老的英国硬币，我会很想知道它们的下落。”

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.

加拿大银行货币博物馆前馆长保罗·贝里 (Paul Berry) 经过仔细检查，确定这枚硬币是亨利七世的“半格罗特”硬币，这是一种在 15 世纪末和 16 世纪初广泛流通的两便士硬币。这一突破性的发现超越了 2001 年在同一地点出土的伊丽莎白女王时代硬币所创下的纪录。然而，这枚新出土的硬币比其前身早了惊人的 60 年，这表明它的流通跨越了一个多世纪才消失。

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.

吉尔伯特的专家分析表明，这枚硬币很可能是与一位早期殖民者一起穿越大西洋的，他于 1610 年与布里斯托尔的著名商人约翰·盖伊 (John Guy) 一起在丘比特建立了定居点。吉尔伯特的团队正在精心挖掘大量 120 枚硬币的东北端。殖民者建造的 1 英尺 x 90 英尺结构。

"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."

吉尔伯特解释说：“我们的挖掘工作发现了‘侧翼’的遗迹，本质上是一个延伸到围墙角落之外的堡垒。” “这座防御工事将安置一门大炮，提供俯瞰港口的战略有利位置。”

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.

这枚硬币的精确位置位于城墙以东约四英尺处，侧翼以南约四英尺处，提供了诱人的线索。吉尔伯特推测，它可能是约翰·盖伊 (John Guy) 或一位早期殖民者在 1610 年秋天建造城墙和侧翼时意外掉落的。

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."

除了其内在的历史价值之外，这枚硬币在加拿大最古老的英国殖民地丘比特的存在还引发了一些有趣的问题。 “这一发现的时机特别引人注目，”吉尔伯特观察到。 “这枚硬币的铸造恰逢约翰·卡伯特 (John Cabot) 于 1495 年抵达英国，开启了欧洲人探索北美的时代。”

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.

这一偶然的发现编织了一个跨越几个世纪的引人入胜的故事，将发现时代、加拿大第一个英国殖民地的建立以及现在重新浮出水面的失落宝藏之间的点点滴滴联系起来。迄今为止，吉尔伯特的团队已在丘比特湾种植园遗址精心发掘出约 170,000 件文物，但银币是迄今为止最非凡的发现。

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.

吉尔伯特设想，暂定于明年对这枚硬币进行一次引人入胜的展示，让公众惊叹于它的历史意义。他强调这些发现的变革力量，超越了它们作为历史遗迹的单纯用途。

"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."

“这些文物不仅仅是过去的遗物，”吉尔伯特坚信地说。 “它们是我们想象力的催化剂，不仅将我们与 1610 年的具体殖民地联系起来，而且将我们与大发现时代的更广阔的挂毯联系起来。它们使我们能够想象那些冒险进入这些未知领域的人们的航行、斗争和胜利。水域，永远在我们的历史上留下了印记。”