SPANISH MILLED DOLLAR
Minted in the rich colonies of Mexico and Peru since the 1500’s and transported by the famed fleets of Spanish galleons at great risk from pirates, hurricanes, and treacherous waters, the Spanish milled dollar by far the most commonly circulated coin in the American colonies. It was so widely accepted that when the United States of America was established, it based its own currency on the milled dollar and officially sanctioned these coins until the 1850’s. The Spanish milled dollar was a silver coin with its edged “milled”, or patterned, to prevent traders from shaving silver from the edge unnoticed.

538. Spanish Milled Dollar, reproduction cast in lead-free Pewter
Reproduced from an original silver coin, we cast this coin in lead-free pewter to represent the appearance and weight of the original Spanish Milled dollar. The coin is clearly marked “copy”, and packaged in a poly bag with history insert.

552. Spanish Milled Dollar, reproduction struck in Silver
Reproduced from an original silver coin, we strike this coin in silver for the clearest detail and closest representation of the original Spanish Milled dollar. The coin is clearly marked “copy”, and packaged in a poly bag with history insert.

PIECES OF EIGHT
Since early coins were valued by their weight and metal content rather than at “face value” as coins are today, the bearer of the coin could make change by breaking the coin into pieces. The Spanish Milled Dollar was known as a Piece of 8 because it was worth 8 reales, a common Spanish coin denomination. The expression “2 bits” to mean a quarter of a dollar comes from breaking the milled dollar into 8 “bits”.

539. Pieces of Eight, reproduction cast in lead-free Pewter
We have created a set of Pieces of Eight that includes one complete reproduction Spanish milled dollar along with 8 eighths (bits), 4 quarters, and 2 halves. Each set of pieces will re-assemble to form a complete, divided Spanish milled dollar, for a total of 4 milled dollars in the set. All castings are lead-free pewter to represent the appearance and weight of the original silver pieces. This set is packaged in a poly bag with history insert.

VIRGINIA HALFPENNY 1773
The Virginia Halfpenny was the only copper coin minted in England exclusively for distribution in the British North American colonies. These coins were authorized by King George III for the Virginia Assembly in 1773, but were not delivered and put into circulation until just prior to the outbreak of the American Revolution in 1775.

550. Virginia Halfpenny
We strike our reproduction of the Virginia Halfpenny in copper alloy; the coin is clearly marked “copy”, and is package din a poly bag with a history insert.

BRITISH GOLD GUINEA 1689
Precious metal coins from England have been uncovered at colonial sites, brought to North America by the settlers and the steady stream of merchants, soldiers, and sailors coming and going in the course of their trades. The British “guinea” coins, made in several denominations, were named in reference to the gold taken from the Guinea coast of Africa, from which they were originally made. This coin, dated 1689, is a reproduction of a one guinea coin from the reign of William & Mary, both of whose profiles appear on the face of the coin.

551. British Gold Guinea 1689
We strike our reproduction of the British William & Mary gold in a metal alloy with a gold wash to closely approximate the look and feel of the original gold guinea. The coin is clearly marked “copy”, and is packaged in a poly bag with a history insert.

QUILL PENS
References to the feather quill pen occur as early as the 6th century AD, as the scribes of the medieval European monasteries and the great Islamic libraries safeguarded their collections of illuminated manuscripts against the perils of the Middle Ages. The history of Europe and the Americas continued to be written with the quill pen as patriots, artists, and scholars created their lasting contributions to civilization. Although mass-produced steel pen points replaced the quill pen in common use by the late 19th century, the fine sharpness and flexibility of the quill nib still gives enjoyment to the calligrapher and the artist as well as the historian.

924. Goose Quill Pen
We craft our quill pens from the finest quality bleached white goose pointers, and package each one in a poly bag with a history insert. The nib may be re-sharpened and re-shaped as often as necessary.

928. Ballpoint Goose Quill Pens
We craft our quill pens from the finest quality bleached white goose pointers, and package each one in a poly bag with a history insert. The nib may be re-sharpened and re-shaped as often as necessary.

WOODEN ROUND BOX
Useful for storing all types of dry goods and belonging, the wooden round box would have been a familiar sight in households and stores of early America. Our box is made in the same style an original “white cooper” would have used: a wide, thin band of wood is bent around a solid wood disk and tacked into place to form the shape of the box or lid, then the overlap is tacked around the edges.

852. Round Box
Our round box (no finish applied) is 10 1/2” dia. x 4” high, with a 1 1/2” high lid, and is fastened together with copper nails.

PLUMES AND TAILS
Popularized most elaborately at the court of Louis XIV by Marie Antoinette, it was the fashion at various times during past centuries to trim both men’s and women’s hats, or even ladies’ hair arrangements, with feathers.

930. Ice Blue Ostrich Plume
931. White Ostrich Plume
932. Black Ostrich Plume
925. Red Ostrich Plume

926. Pheasant Tail
Our plumes are dyed, natural ostrich plumes, and our pheasant tails are left in their natural color. All are ready for millinery use.