I also have in my collection the 1832 coin mentioned by Mr. Watterton

Jun 26, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Regarding your article titled ‘Guyanese seeks highest bidder for rare 1832 coin’, dated June 22, 2014.
Among my collection of Guyanese historical materials are rare coins, stamps, school and British Guiana (BG) yearbooks, film, historical photographs, including hundreds taken by myself between 1960-1967 as Guyana was struggling for independence, and 50 original copies of Guiana Graphic newspapers, regarding the 1962 Georgetown riot.
I also have in my collection the 1832 coin mentioned by Mr. Watterton. I found my coin in 1959 at the Old Albion Estate ‘logie’ area where African slaves once lived and was later occupied by indentured labourers, including my family. This area across the ‘trench’ from Albion Estate Office is now vacant, after new dwellings were built for sugar workers in housing settlements at Nigg, Belvedere, Hampshire, Williamsburg and other parts of Berbice.
An aerial photograph of the Old Albion Estate ‘logie’ area as it appeared in 1945, as well as others of Albion Estate and school, can be seen at albioncommunity.webs.com. This photograph and others were obtained from a report regarding the poor conditions of workers’ dwellings on the sugar estates, causing them to move to new settlements.
I believe the coin is one guilder that was minted during the reign of William IV, whose bust appears on the coin. As we are aware, during the 1830’s was a significant time for African slaves in the British Empire, when they became free, by the efforts of William Wilberforce and others.
An interesting movie about Wilberforce’s struggle to free slaves in the British Empire is called ‘Amazing Grace’. The hymn was written by John Newton who was a slave ship captain and later became a clergyman. I believe Wilberforce served on his ship as a crew member, and this is where he was influenced by the suffering of the slaves and began his lifelong quest to see them free. Slavery was abolished in most of the British Empire in 1833 and unfortunately Wilberforce died that same year due to poor health that he endured during his long challenging fight to free the slaves.
I have difficulty understanding the coin being minted in 1832 that did not include Berbice, because I believe Berbice became part of BG in 1831. I can only assume the mix-up of dates must be due to the delay in minting and transporting new coins to the colonies.
If Mr. Watterton were to Google ‘United Colony of Essequibo and Demerara 1832’, he might see a similar coin, but the only difference is, it has a hole similar to that made by a rifle bullet.
Over 180 years for a Guyanese coin is indeed significant, especially one that was minted during the time when African slaves became free in the British Empire. My quest to investigate the value of the coin in my collection has not been successful. I believe the best choice Mr. Watterton has in finding a buyer is to investigate rare coin merchants in Britain, through relatives who might be living there. Even though rare, the condition and quality of coins play a huge part in declaring their value, unlike the BG one cent magenta stamp, where only one is known to exist. I also have in my collection many first day issues from the 1960’s, representing this stamp.
This coin represents William IV, Wilberforce and the freeing of African slaves during that period, including Guyana’s history. It is indeed very significant to the people of Guyana and in my opinion, should be kept at the museum, with a description of its history that can be viewed by students.
I would appreciate additional information or any feedback regarding this coin.
At the moment, I am unsure what to do with my collection, but I have to decide soon, due to personal reasons. Before Dr. Cheddi Jagan passed on, we discussed this matter and I am impressed with the work being done at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre.
In 2007 we completed a non-political interview with Janet Jagan at Freedom House, regarding her relationship with her husband and family. She had an interesting reply to my question regarding one of their best achievements as a couple. She said, “Oh my gosh, Cheddi used to try so hard to tell parents not to destroy their gyal picknee good teeth by capping it with gold before they get married. We used to show them model magazines of beautiful women with good looking real teeth, so they can change their mind’. I assumed her answer would have been political.
Vince Ramcharran,
Canada.

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I also have in my collection the 1832 coin mentioned by Mr. Watterton

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