These copper pennies and halfpennies were minted in England between 1601 and 1602. They were made for use in Ireland and did not have wide circulation in England. Dozens of Irish coins have been found during the course of excavation. It has been suggested they found their way to Virginia in the pockets of individuals who had either seen military service in Ireland or had been involved with the English settlement of Ireland in the early 17th century. It is much more likely that these coins helped satisfy the colonists' need for small change. Also, these practically worthless copper objects would have been valuable items for the Indian trade.