Jeff G. writes: I have an 1808 East India Company coin. It was apparently recovered from a sunken ship and then sold by “The American Historic Society” encased in plastic with a certificate of authenticity which states that the “cash” coin was recovered in 1985 from the shipwreck of “The Admiral Gardner”, a 145 foot long three decker built in 1796 which sank in the English Channel during a storm on Jan 25, 1809. On the reverse is inscribed in Persian, “Ten Cash are equal to Two Falus” and “X .CASH.” Can you tell me if it has any value? Thanks.
The copper cash from the shipwreck, The Admiral Gardner, were found in huge numbers and marketed by various promotional companies. There is no such official organization as “The American Historic Society”. They are a marketing company. These coins can be readily purchased at a coin show for between $5 -$12.
Also see: Chinese “Cash” coin
