I haven't mudlarked this area of the Thames for years! Can you ID a Coin I found there (May 2022) 

The copper sheathing on ships gave us the phrase "copper-bottomed" copper-bottomed adjective BRITISH thoroughly reliable; certain not to fail. "a copper-bottomed guarantee"

I would add another scenario. Here in the U.S. It was a somewhat common practice to make a wish on a coin and then drop it into a well or toss it into a stream/ river. If they were breaking ships there it might have been in the bilge of the ship and when disassembles, it may have dropped into the mud, unseen. ( I am jealous of your finding the Indian head penny. I have been metal detecting here in the U.S. for 35 years and have yet to find an Indian head penny).

The tiny doll is called a Frozen Charlotte. I believe they were a fad that started in the US, and sometimes used in puddings, rather like a silver sixpenny piece in a Christmas pudding. There is a Wikipedia page explaining their history.

A few years back they were doing renovations on a landmark victorian era building in my city and discovered a lot of coins hidden in the walls or even embedded into masonry or concrete. Many of the coins had been stamped or carved with initials. There were also a few photographs and other trinkets. After some research it was discovered that when the building was under construction, visitors were welcome to tour it and marvel at the state of the art building techniques. Many of the visitors wanted to leave their mark on what would surely become a landmark and important piece of history, so they carved their initials into things they had in their pockets and left these tokens wherever they could. I wonder how many foreign coins in the Thames are similar - not lost, but someone wanting to leave a token or piece of themselves in a place that felt important. Or maybe they were just thrown in for good luck, like coins in a fountain.

Some years ago when I worked for the Environment Agency we had a visit to the Thames Barrier and we were able to enter the small tunnel which runs beneath the Thames and carries the service cables and pipes to each of the Gates. We walked along the tunnel and came up on one the gates right in the middle of the river. A fascinating experience!

Regarding your Indian head cent: Indian head cents were still in circulation as late as WWII although not common. By the 1950s Indian head cents had been pretty much all removed from circulation. There is a span of about 60 years the coin could have been lost, American tourists 19th & 20th Century, WWI & WWII US military, etc.

Hi Nicola, I loved your intro of the great barrier. Quite an interesting collection of artifacts. Noticed other people's mudlarking videos on utube but your still the best and the original!

'Peanuts are the answer.' We have two young grey squirrels right now who are spending their days eating the sunflower seeds that birds knock out of our feeders. They are mysteriously calm, and move slowly and gently through the grass, unlike most youngsters, and also unlike most squirrels! I love how you express your love of thinking about just who had last touched the things you find. And, so often, you are able to give us at least a glimpse of the possibilities. I'd like to think that that couple's skiff bumped into the canoe while Mr Whistler was a passenger in it. All of them dropped coins and jewelry, and some is still waiting for you to find it!

Hi Nicola, I believe your disc may be a quirsh, a coin which was used in several North African countries and which still is used in Saudi Arabia. It looks 19th century, I believe Egypt had the strongest trading links with the UK from that area at that time. I am no expert but I am suggesting this as a possible line of enquiry. I hope that you solve the mystery.

I love the idea of someone writing about dropping their items in the river and you finding it many years later and then reading about it, Its like a full circle of antiquity.

Dear young lady, I enjoy you treasure hunts very much. I was born in the old south and when I was a boy, there were many old homes near us that dated to the period of the Civil War. My sisters and I searched under the front porch of these old mansion and found many silver coins and not a few gold colds. Indeed, we found a $20,00 gold coin, which I yet have after more than 75 years. I think that I was born a treasure hunter. Nothing is more fun. With all good wishes, Samuel of Georgia.

Hello Nicola .the currency on which it is Written Arabic ,You hold it upside down and put its picture in the video upside down ,/It says الله means God ,and the second word says محمد Muhammadand he is the prophet of Islam and Muslims.the last two Words are not clear to me..Ithink it is a rare coin/ Thank you

Love your theories on the cent piece. My scenario is that a couple, an American GI and a London nurse met during WWII and fell in love. They tossed the penny into the river for the luck so that the soldier safely returns to her ❤️

Worked all morning inside, here in the Northeast USA on 94 degree day (in May!) I needed to be somewhere else and there you were! Soon I'm walking along the Thames, picking up bits of British history. Thank you for carrying us away from our concerns and cares with your lovely videos. Maybe in NYC you will feed the squirrels in Central Park, cousins no doubt to your little friend. 🐿 And throw a penny in the fountain while you are there. 😊

Here in the USA, my wife and I really enjoy your show and all your finds. A great way to spend a cold afternoon watching you mudlarking! Thanks for sharing! 2/2/2023

Hi Nicola. My husband and I love watching your videos and the history behind some of your favorite mudlarking finds. We were especially interested in the 1881 Indian Head Penny and how it might have found its way to the Thames. We thought maybe it might have traveled with the Buffalo Bill Wild West show touring Britain around 1887. Imaging its journey is what keeps us all searching for treasures from our past. Thanks! Leah

I live in Swansea and for many years lived in an area that was historically known as Copperopolis. The copper smelting industry was started there in 1720 the copper ore came across the sea from Cornwall. It was the ideal location with the River Tawe the nearness to Cornwall and the excellent coal which was mined all in the immediate vicinity. There were 9 smelters and they supplied the copper for Nelsons ships in the battle of Tragalgar, apparently it made the ships faster in the water. They are in the process of restoring as much as they can of buildings etc still around the area.

I find the adoption of the Thames as a sacred river very fascinating. I would really enjoy a video about the offerings you've seen and found!

Now, another scenario; How many US soldiers were in London during or just after WWI? My grandfather was a doctor and was stationed in Brest France during WWI. I know I have some Indian head pennies that my father had collected over the years along with a lot of other old coins, Minnie balls, and arrowheads he found on his adventures in the Tennessee countryside! It is fun to imagine how these treasures came to be where they are found in 2022!

Hi Nicola, The penny you found is called an ‘Indian Head penny.Although technically the United States never made a penny we make Cents. We’ve never had a coin with the word penny on it.That one that you found is actually Lady liberty in a headdress. I hope you had a good time while you were here and that you were treated with hospitality!~Paul

I thought I was watching something from Star Wars with the music playing in the background, passing around and through those strange looking lighted oval orbs that became something entirely different! Thank you for explaining the odd but spectacular invention to protect London from flooding! I am speechless and had to show my adult son! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Very interesting finds as always! I’ve never tried Pernod and Black, but we used to drink rum and black in Edinburgh as students in the 70’s.....when someone else was paying!😉 My theory on the penny is that one of the “Dollar Princesses” dropped her lucky penny in the river when she was sent by her family from America ; to marry an English titled but boring fellow. She lost her penny, so was never happy. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Wonderful excursion, Nicola. I would imagine an 1881 American penny is a pretty rare find on the Thames foreshore. Although I love your scenarios, I wouldn't be surprised if someone actually threw it in the river on purpose, you know, for luck. Have fun in NYC! It's been a few years since I've made it up there, but you'll love it.

Beautiful intro Nicola. That barrier is a marvel of engineering. You feel bad for the folks of London in 1953. Surely they'd been through enough by that point. Thanks for sharing you relaxing lark. Made for a relaxing lunch over this side of the pond.

Hello again Nicola, where did the 38 minutes and 49 seconds go again, its like a time warp. How nice it was to hear your commentary without the wind, what a nice day it must have been. Relating too the copper sheets you found they were interesting. Science at the time was progressing very fast and copper was smelted in wales. Four thousand years ago copper ore was being mined on The Great Orme Llandudno. In Swansea they were turning out copper ingots and sheet copper. Royal navy ships had a big problem with marine growth on the hulls of ships. The biggest problem was a wood boring worm. They also realized that all this produced drag on the hull. I suppose they were making copper kettles cake tins and all sorts until someone noted that when in seawater copper remained free of marine growth. Thereafter all british ships hulls were clad in copper. Its the reaction that takes place with the saltwater, it sets up an electrical curcuit,like a car battery. Thats where the saying "its a copper bottom guarantee" comes from. The mines on the Great Orme are open to visitors all year round, it is a fantastic walk through thousands of years of human occupation. All the best Nicola. Ron.

My Great Great Grandpa Lea was a Waterman and my GG Grandpa Dewing was a Lighterman on the Thames and left for the USA in 1858. We enjoy watching your adventures very much.

Copper sheet metal was used as an antifouling 'cladding' on the hulls of wooden ships to prevent barnacles from growing on a ship's bottom. The British Admiralty first used sheets of copper nailed to the bottom of wooden ships as antifoulants with the frigate, Alarm, in 1761. It was some 20 years later that copper nails were used instead of iron nails as the latter caused galvanic corrosion of the iron, resulting in the loss of the copper plates.

Makes me sad when you leave behind pipe stems with no bowl ... all I've ever found is stems about 1/2 " long up here in Liverpool ..one day I'll hopefully make it to the Thames and hopefully find a complete one ..until then I shall continue to watch your brilliant videos....thank you and keep up the good work 👏 x

The Indian head penny is an awesome find. Love how you use your imagination to think about how it got there. Thank you for explaining the flood solution to us. I sure wondered what those huge things in the river were!

On the offering plate the pattern is called Sri Yantra. Thanks as always for the wonder filled journey.

Hi, seeing as you are giving nearly impossible reasons for the US cent coin being there, let me add one. There was a boat builder on the shore of the Thames about 100 years ago, and he had built a smallish sailing boat, and needed a coin to place under the mast. Being cheap, and feeling the pinch of governmental policies of the time, he preferred to use a foreign coin rather than the natural coinage of the human race, the shilling and the florin. He had found a One Cent coin a few years before, that an American visitor had dropped in the Thames for luck, like a wishing well. So, he used the coin under the mast of the little boat, as this is a tradition that you might Google because being a former unionised British Worker, I prefer not to do because being now retired, this is outside my job classification. Anyway. Little boat rotted away on the mud, and the coin is all that is left of her. Great show, reminds me of my original home. Good luck John

Terredo Nivalis (Toredo Worm) the scourge of wooden ships hulls. It bores into the toughest woods including oak and renderers the hulls to dust making them like sieves, Hence the copper platting as a prevention. Making the ships go faster was an extra bonus when copper platting was introduced by the senior service. The American coin, I’m a bit of a romantic art lover so my guess James whistler lost it. Thanks for a lovely video, miss this part of London greatly.

My scenario is: James Whistler while sketching on bank of the Thames removed his pen knife from his pocket to sharpen one of his pencils. The Penny as loose change slipped out of his pocket and into the gutter. It started to rain heavily and it was washed via the gutter onto the river foreshore and has been tumbling around ever since. Until it was caught in the embrace of a lonely rock where it lived happily in good company until the rock became ancient and lost its mass to erosion. Being weak and frail the rock bid fond farewell to its beloved companion. But could not release its embrace. So the lonely Indian head penny was awash. Until found by you. Picked up and cherished again and given a new home amongst fresh company of other varied artifacts. And thus was lonely no more. 🥰

Always a pleasure to watch you Nicola and your finds are incredible as always! About the coin 🪙 written in Arabic, to read it, it has to be turned up side down. The first word on the left coin is Alah, so it is a coin from a muslim country/empire. From my research, it could be from the Ottoman empire. On the right, there’s a date, but it’s really hard to read. For the design, Ottoman used the dot pattern a lot on their coins and it can be found across the entire empire with nuances. I hope that helps! Finally, the Indian head coin is simply gorgeous! Thanks, Sonia :)

I loved seeing how the barrier works! I’ve seen the buildings, but couldn’t figure out how it worked. A very interesting series of mysteries!

Very interested to see the nails that you find. When I researched my family tree, I discovered that in the early 1800s, my ancestors made nails in Belper, Derbyshire. It was a cottage industry then, involving the whole family.

In the late 60s, Popular Mechanics magazine had an interesting illustrated article about the proposed Thames barrier.

Arabic item is a near modern Algerian token, looks like. Lovely session indeed. The diagram on the copper sheet is a Hindu mandala, a sacred diagram of spiritual progress. Oscar Wilde also toured America in the early 1880's, perhaps he dropped the penny overboard!

I looked at Medallions and Coins Arabic. I found one that looks similar to the one you found. But the one you found looks much older. The one I found online is 20th century medallion. The writing was scribbled across top of the medallion at the top and with markings on the other side with the dots in a circle. Your find maybe from earlier period then then Ottoman Empire. The one I found that is 20th Century, the online site said these were minted like the one they had in the Ottoman period. This might give you a hint as you research it yourself.

I do hope you can find out more about your mysterious arabic looking disc and hopefully you can inform us when you discover what it is. I would be particularly interested due to having 2 smaller but very similar discs myself and cannot find out anything about them.

In the past - before the collecting mania took hold - coins could stay in circulation much longer. I remember as a child in the 60s seeing coins from decades earlier. Also: My neighbor puts out peanuts along with birdseed. Every time I dig in my garden, I find another forgotten peanut.

Really interesting opening footage of the Thames barrier!

You really are a poem in motion. All things real, beautiful, full of life and love, thanks again.

To have dropped all those items into the river, Elizabeth must have fallen overboard! 😂

Thanks for yet another enriching and enjoyable excursion on the Thames, Nicola! I love the research you did on the Indian Head cent and would like to think James Whistler dropped it during his drawing expeditions. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. I hope your trip to NYC is/was enjoyable and worthwhile for you. All hail the President of the Pipe Club!

Little squirrel gives me a lot of joy too. Has become my favorite moment no matter what you find.💕🐿️💞

Im so glad you told us about the Thames barrier. I had no idea what those big white things were! A nice bit of info with my vicarious mudlarking!

Nicola, I just love your imagination! Thanks for encouraging us to stretch our minds and see even a small, simple thing in a creative light. 💛

I just love your never-ending enthusiasm for the craft, the filming is increasing in quality, with newly worked editing skills being incorporated in to what we view these days, make each new film more absorbing to watch. VBW x

Hi Nicola I think the Arabic artefact is token but it's upside down :) think it looks like 1877 Adore your mudlarking adventures and histories . Stay safe and hope you find something spectacular in NY

Niccola , your beauty , intellect and passion for history all combine to make for such an interesting channel . All so very well presented. Thank you.

The Queen of the mudlarks knocks it for a home run again!

Nicole, I just love your show. I don’t hardly comment but I do hit the like on all of them . I love watching you fine things and I watch the after as you find out about. It’s so interesting listening to you tell about them. But I happen to catch the squirrel. I don’t know how long you have been doing this. But it is so precious. I love it , what I’m really surprised about is that he has yet surprised you by coming in uninvited since you started giving him treats. Be safe happy and healthy. 🌺🤗🌸❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🌸🌸❤️

Interesting to see history through a coin. Thank you Nicola!

Thank you Nicola! Great show! Bright spot this Sunday! 💛

Nice finds, I am really happy you told us at the end the history of those who visited there. Awesome thanks 😊

Hi Nicola, thank you for all the added informations. It makes the videos so much more exciting.

I loved the 1881 Indian Head penny. It prompted me to use the Google machine to research more information on American penny coin history which turned out to be very interesting. Thanks for sharing your finds!

Our National treasure Mark Twain was also there between 1891 and 1900. I could see him deliberately throwing that for luck. And he would have known about the Thames and it’s history…..he was a naturally curious fellow.

Thanks for a great show.

Great video, love the history of floods and barrier. Lovely finds Nicola, thanks.

A great vid as always nicola. I just love the music and video bits you put in your vids too, they're so relaxing.

Love your videos Nicola - Thanks!

I learn and relearn so much history from your interesting finds and research - THANKS

Hi Nicola, great video! So relaxing and informative. Stay safe 👍🇦🇺🪃 xxx

The frame you found was very nice. Can't wait to see it whenever you use it in your art.

Thank you again Nicola ❤️

Some lovely finds. Enjoyed seeing your little squirrel friend 🐿 😄

"Close encounters of the bird kind" that really made me laugh Nicola! 😂😂 I love watching your adventures. What i also like is how you later on search things up an explain or tell about your finds. Hope you have a nice day! Looking forward to a new episode😊

Such an interesting video! I loved the historical footage - I'm only half in 😅

Thank you so much for the information on the Thames Barrier. I would not have guessed that these attractive objects in the river were flood gates.

Thank you Nicola for sharing your wonderful Adventure 🙂👍🏽

Very interesting- love the historical background and vintage vids/photos etc. and I always wondered how it worked so thanks for showing them open/close. Great vid, as always

Thank you, Nicola, for giving me such a relaxing morning watching your video. You have such calm, happy demeanor in your videos, and there is always something to learn, as well💛

Watching your videos on a lazy Sunday afternoon is for me a nice way to decompress from a tough work week.

Hello Nicola!I have seen the barrier in a Flood movie made in London that I watched. Very good movie. So excited you are back and can't wait to see what you find!!!💕

Great video as always my friend x

Awesome Nicola, loved the little leg, I hope you had time to see Si's delicious pipe bowl, what a character. Absolutely love the history through your eyes. Keep em coming x.🇨🇦🐘🍁🤗👣

Lots of love from Montana, Nicola!

What a very very very informative video on London and flooding. Information that I would have never known except for your video. Thanks for letting us know!!! 😊

Now my Sunday afternoon is complete. Thanks for posting, Nicola.

That barrier system is fascinating.I love how you give little history lessons.The Thames does look like a beautiful place. Much love from Ontario, Canada

Hi Nicola, love watching you're videos, cheers me up 💕 Thankyou Alex

Thank you for a great video as always

I love your "side" videos of your surroundings. The barrier is really interesting and so are all the birds. I have to laugh at all your "scenarios" that you come up with regarding your finds. You have such a great imagination, you might consider writing a novel about your mudlarking finds....it would be a mystery, of course.

Very cool intro, Nicola! ( : They look sooo modern and very artsy! I loved seeing you pulling away from them! Thank God they are there to keep London safe! When were they built? Very cool that they are separate from each other, so boats can still move through them! ( : Cool and perfect large square piece of metal! I had no idea until the round up that the metal was copper sheathing! Copper is such a beautiful metal! One of my favs! ( : Perfect for a tray or to use to make a sign out if! ( : Cool to find an extra large sail eyelet! I bet he thought the sail eyelet was a treat! I once had a seagull steal a chip out of my mouth and he was huge! I didn't know what was happening! The sun got blocked out and he swiftly stole my chip right out of myiutg...the bad bird! Hurt my bottom lip too! Naughty naughty birds at Misquamicut Beach in Rhode Island! ) : Sooo many items in one little space, a bowl, pipe stem, and a Half Penny! ( : I love your oh, oh, ooh to a really cool coin you found! ( : Yayyyyyyy! A mystery coin! ( : A tiny foot and leg! So cute! ( : Are those giant nails next to the smaller nails you picked up, Nicola? Oh wow. The dark blue marble is amazing and will look great as a fish eye! I love it! ( : The river even cleaned off the bottles for you! Lol! ( : Malibu is amazing! ( : Maybe a pendant? Or a part of an old earring. It is very pretty, whatever it is! ( : Too big for a penny, but a one cent is a penny, so maybe6beurs are playing tricks on me! ) : Was it a brooch nestled amongst the rocks? Neat! ( : It is sooo nice and calm where you are today! ( : That piece of metal with consecutive lines cut out in a parallel is from a harmonica? Wow! I would never have guessed that! Thank you for sharing that! ( : Hurray, a pipe bowl with a stem! You definitely need to find a pipe, I agree! You are definitely the pipe queen! ( : Ohhhh. I love that metal frame! It is really beautiful! ( :

Thank you very much for sharing your experiences.

It always amazes me the treasures you find! I love the history you share on your finds. Please stay safe and be careful!❤❤

Hi Nicola just came across your channel and i am also very into finding out about different objects that me or someone like you come across.You have a new SUBSCRIBER and can't wait to watch more of your videos.Be safe my dear and continue on your hunt for these amazing objects.

Nic, thanks for your continued energy and fascinating commentary on our shared history... you are an inspiration. Please keep it up.

I'd love to know more about the barriers Nic. I love the way you share information. I've learned so much and I feel an affinity with the Thames River from watching both you and Si's channels. I also love looking around the Thames to see if I can spot treasures on your walkabouts. Much love and gratitude. Rachelle, Australia 🦘 xo

Your enthusiasm is so contagious , great video as always

Nice vid nic, Just got back from Guernsey, my little piece of heaven.

Love your interesting videos!

WOW looking amazing [more than normal] in the blue blouse

I enjoyed seeing the little sailing ship you showed just before going home.

That bird appeared to be a starling. They are considered invasive here in the states but they are quite friendly and make their nests in our dryer vents and bbq grills at our homes. He might have just been saying hello.

I feel I'm compelled to say it's Mr. Whitman. Being from Maine- we're awfully familiar w/ birchbark canoes- and understanding how momentarily precarious it can be embarking and disembarking. : ) Glad you have a great time in NY! Can't wait to see the vids from there! Cheers!

Thanks, well done!

Love it! Really like all of the options you have come up with regarding the Indian head penny! Loved being educated about the great barrier flood area, so interesting. Hope you have a great week! Enjoy your time in New York!!! Love from the US! 👍✌️❤️😊