Holed copper disk

[Bartman]

I dug this this past weekend at an old homestead in the woods. I thought for sure I had my first large cent, but upon closer inspection, I'm not sure what it is. It is slightly larger in diamter than a large cent, but thinner. It has a hole in the center and a slight bump around the hole (hence I'm thinking button?). Also the edge is lightly reeded, but only on one side.

 

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[Likely Guy]

Is that a small number '5' in the middle (2nd photo) or are my eyes playing tricks again?

 

[JakefaePa]

I can see the 5 just left of the hole.

 

[DCMatt]

The bump could be from the hole being punched. I'm guessing it is a coin because of the reeded edge.

But I'm only guessing. Can you get better pics?

DCMatt

 

[dozer dan]

whistle from a teapot?

 

[Bartman]

Yeah, I just noticed the pics didn't come out that well. I looked at the coin again and that isn't a "5" just a bump from where I believe the shank may have been attached. I don't think it is a coin for several reasons; 1. it is too thin, 2. the reeds come into the surface of the coin too far in comparision to large cents and such. 3. If it were a holed copper I don't think that they would have holed it directly in the center, thus it wouldn't sit flat around a chain or such. I'm thinking button, but it is awful big for that. I'm wondering if the "ridges/reeding" on one side could be part of a gear or something. Unfortunately, you can't see the ridges on the picture.

 

[Tomas Frijole]

Kinda looks like the flame control knob on a kerosene hurricane lamp.

 

[Don in SJ]

Just from what I see from your photos I lean strongly towards it being a copper coin, since you say slightly larger than a Large Cent, the hole in the center is not uncommon and it just has the look of a copper coin and not a button. Can you give the diameter in mm? Reason, not all Large Cents were the same size, earlier year ones were larger. Also, possibility of a counterfeit colonial era copper.

Don

 

[Bartman]

Don, I'd figured you'd chime in. I placed it next to a 1817 large cent and it was slightly bigger (~ 1mm). I looked in my red book and it looked like the largest of the large cents was ~ 28mm from what I can remember. Even though it is a copper disk, it seems too thin to me to be a coin (granted I have poor knowledge of the characteristics of colonial coppers). The reeding on the rim seems to extend in too far on the face of the object as well. I did find this at an old homestead that I identified by a few scattered bricks and some flower bulbs that I found when hunting. I think it is a mid 1800's site by the age of a few bottles I found there. I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't think it is a coin. Then again, if anyone could figure out if this a coin you'd be the guy. I'll try and measure and post better pictures when I get home.

 

[Don in SJ]

The size is within possibility of several coins, but I am concerned about the 1st photo, not looking right with those marks at the edge, however, could you try to rephotograph the 2nd (bottom) photo, more direct, not as much on an angle, I think I see something on that one. But, it just could be because of the severe angle the shot was made on.

If you drop it, does it sound like a coin and not a button, do you have any large buttons in that size category, if so compare, the edge from your photos still look more like a coin than most buttons. Let me hold it and I could tell quickly.

Don

 

[72cheyenne]

Could it be a LC that has been smashed a bit, thus making it thinner and larger in diameter?

 

[Bartman]

72, that would make sense to me. I thought about that also, but the diameter is pretty uniform and it doesn't look to have any damage from being smashed.

 

[Don in SJ]

All indications still lead to it looking like a coin and not a button, however, pics are tough sometimes to make judgement on. But, with that said, I got out one of my 1819 Large Cents, measured it, 28.0mm. Then I got one of my worn 1798 Draped Bust Large Cents, measured it 29.3mm, so that is over a 1mm difference. Most Draped Busts will be larger than a Coronet Large Cent.

I measured the thickness of both, the 1819 was 2.1mm the 1798 was 1.7mm.

The difference in the weight of the two also accounts for the Draped Bust being thinner, 1798 Draped Bust is 9.16 grams versus 10.39 for the 1819 Large Cent.

So we have different diameters and weights and thickness, but yet they are Large Cents.

So perhaps a better photo of some measurements and weights similar to what I have done can probably confirm or eliminate it being a button or coin.

Don

 

[Bartman]

Don, I measured it and it is around 35mm. I included some more pics so I hope they'll help with the I.D. Looking at it with my loupe I could make out an "8" near the center of the object. I also included a picture of the side and you can see that it is thinner than a penny. You may be able to discern the "8" in the second picture. I may have been misleading before by saying it is reeded. The edges aren't reeded, just the front of the object. You may be able to see this in the first pic.

 

[Don in SJ]

If it is 35mm it is most likely a button, your misleading statement was that it was ~ 1 mm larger than your large cent.

Don

 

[Bartman]

If it is 35mm it is most likely a button, your misleading statement was that it was ~ 1 mm larger than your large cent.

Don

Yeah, I wasn't too scientific about it, just held it behind the cent which was in the holder. Looks like I made a gross underestimate I wanted it to be a copper though.

 

[Don in SJ]

Well hopefully next hunt you will get it. If that is in fact a button, at that size it would more likely be a late 1700s button if that is any consolation.

The top side of the button would be where you saw some of the edge design, the shank side would not have had a backmark.


Don

 

[BioProfessor]

Just a little input about photographs. If you use a white background, it confuses the camera. It tries to expose it correctly and not the object being photographed. Try another color background - blue, red, green - and give us another look. It would be good to see a better picture and also the difference background color will make. Using natural light is also better, just be careful of shadows.

Just my $.02.

Daryl

 

[Bartman]

Daryl, believe it or not, but that was a blue background. I was looking for some darker blue, but couldn't find it. I fooled with the lighting for a little bit, but there really wasn't much I could do with it.

 

[relic lover]

coin made into a whizzer??