YOUNG UNI: Students find historic coin while "sounding out" it

During a course of the JUNGE UNI in Bocholt, the participants made an interesting discovery at the Stenerner Weg: while "sondeln" they found an old coin from the 19th century.

Front of the Prussian silver penny — © Eckhardju, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Front of a Prussian silver penny. (Source: Wikipedia)

German Kondring is a registered explorer and has now given twelve interested JUBoh students an insight into his work. After the students received detailed technical information about the construction of a metal detector, the group went to the outdoor area of the further education centre at Stenerner Weg to experience the device in action.

After some cent coins, chain pendants, rings and a gutter, the group came across a very special find: what came to light was an old coin. It quickly became clear that it could not have come from modern times. After a rough cleaning, it could be seen that the young students had found a silver penny.

After a later closer look, cleaning and research by the explorer, it turned out that it must be an old Prussian coin from the Kingdom of Prussia from the period 1821-1840. At that time, Friedrich Wilhelm III ruled.

The find is a circulating coin, which was used as a regular means of payment at that time. It is made of billon, a silver alloy with other less valuable metals, and has a weight of 2.19 grams and a diameter of 18.42 millimetres.

Coin is determined at the FO

The coin will be on its way to the LWL in Münster at the end of the year, where it will be identified and catalogued by a numismatist. "The course itself was a highlight, but this find left us all amazed," said Jennifer Engels, head of JUBoh. "Of course we will also offer this course next semester, maybe we will find more ancient coins or other treasures," Jennifer Engels continued.

Programme online from August

The JUBoh programme for the winter semester 2023/24 will be published on the JUBoh homepage on 24 August, and registration for the courses will be possible digitally from 31 August.