An estimated 200-year-old coin was found on June 19, 2024, at the Tarragindi Archaeological Dig in Berrien Springs by 11-year-old Leif Sigvartsen. The coin was a Maria Theresa "Thaler" (rhymes with "dollar" and is where the English word "dollar" comes from). This is an Austrian coin that was an international currency used by Holy Roman Empire countries and for international trade. In a time when there were no electronic currency transfers or PayPal, the Thaler was a good way for European settlers in the early 1800’s to bring currency from Europe to the USA. The “Thaler” was used by early settlers in Michigan – which may explain why this coin was found next to Long Lake in Berrien Springs.
Made from a silver and copper alloy, the coin is dated 1780, but from 1780 onwards, all these coins were dated 1780 to honor the death of Archduchess Maria Theresa, the only female Habsburg ruler of Austria 1740-1780. Maria Theresa was also the mother of the French queen, Marie Antoinette, who was executed as part of the French Revolution. The coin is heavily corroded on one side suggesting it was most likely accidently dropped in the early 1800s by a Berrien Springs settler, trapper, or native American when this currency may still have been in use (predominantly prior to 1857) and sat there for nearly 200 years with one side being corroded by the ground and the other side exposed to the elements. The coin will be on display at the Tarragindi Archaeological Dig exhibit in the Old Courthouse during Pickle Fest, July 4, 2025, at the Berrien County History Center, Berrien Springs. Other significant finds from the Spring 2025 Tarragindi Archaeological dig season will be on display too.
“Dirt does terrible things to silver/copper coins,” says Dr Jan Sigvartsen PhD, Director of the Tarragindi Archaeological Dig and adjunct professor at Andrews University. “The markings on the eagle on the side that is still intact suggest it was minted in the early 1800s, but we cannot be sure. We will have to do more investigating.”
The coin was found while Dr Sigvartsen and his eldest son, Leif, were clearing up fallen branches near Square Three at the Tarragindi Archaeological Dig site in preparation for the Fall 2025 Dig season which starts in late August. The Tarragindi Archaeological Dig is excavating an old farm first purchased in 1836 by a member of one of Berrien Springs' earliest settler families. Over the next 150 years, they built up a “farmers dump,” which is an archaeologist's treasure trove of life in Berrien Springs from that early period up until 1970, when the “dump” was no longer used.
“The coin was just sitting there on the ground, right next to the corner peg of Square Three, and I thought I saw a German eagle on it,” says Leif, who is going to be a sixth-grader at Berrien Springs Middle School in the upcoming school year. “I told my Mom, who was with me, and she said to go and get your Dad [Dr Sigvartsen] straight away!”
Children aged 6-18, who either live in Berrien Springs or attend a private school, church school, public school, or a home school program in the Berrien Springs school district, are all eligible to participate for free in the Tarragindi Archaeological Dig, Fall 2025 dig season. The Tarragindi Archaeological Dig is also operating a dig with the Berrien County History Center in July for both adults and children to participate in. See tarragindi.org for details or register in person for the July Berrien County History Center dig at the Old Courthouse during Pickle Fest, July 4.
