While my husband was busy at the fire cooking us a camp oven dinner, I thought I would take out my 10 year old Minelab CTX3030 & have a bit of a swing! My expectation was low as we were in a free campsite in a sheep paddock in New South Wales, Australia! It was not too long before my trusty CTX3030 rang up a nice 12:40 signal at an indicated depth of six inches deep in soft ground. It looked like a coin but a closer look revealed something spectacular! I cried a cheer and started the research! This is a “rare” 1880 token/advertising fob produced for MacNiven & Cameron’s Pens of Edinburgh, Scotland (established in the 1840’s). On the Obverse is: Laureate head right, GEORGIUS.III/DEI.GRATIA. On the Reverse: A Crowned shield, WAVERLEY NILE PICKWICK OWL HINDOO PENS, has a double concentric legend, the outer in larger font than the inner. MACNIVEN & CAMERONS PENS ARE THE BEST. THEY COME AS A BOON / AND BLESSING TO MEN. It has the following dimensions: Weight 5.1grams, Diameter 24.93mm, Thickness 1.49mm. A circular perforation is present at the 12 o’clock position of the obverse & was part of the original.
