Need help with coin ID.

[Crawdigger]

I have been detecting the same 1840's plantation for almost a year and a few months ago I found this. I didn't pay much attention to it at first because, due to the size, I presumed it was junk.
I took it home and today I cleaned it off and I can vaguely make out writing on it. I'm not sure if it's a coin, a token, or trash.
Thanks!

 

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[Crawdigger]

Maybe a civil war token?

 

[treblehunter]

Sorry, I can't help you ID it. I'm in the same boat as you. I found a coin yesterday in a very old colonial site (1600's) that I can't get anything off of it. I'm in the process of trying hot peroxide baths. Lately it just seems like my luck, I find what I believe to be a LC and its so toasted I can't even get a slight ID.

 

[Crawdigger]

Well thank you for the reply. I've read on here about using hot peroxide to clean coins but have never tried it. Lemon juice usually works best for me. Even better than electrolosis. Have you used peroxide baths before? And if so, how would you grade the results?

 

[g-olden years]

Maybe my memory is off, but I think those that use hot peroxide baths to clean coins usually warn that you shouldn't breathe the fumes. Also heat til warm or hot, but don't heat to boiling point. Whatever your item is, the green seems to hint of some copper content. So far, I've used only baking soda, q-tips & toothbrush to clean stuff. Andi

 

[WilliamBoyd]

It looks like a Chinese cash coin from the early 1900's.

 

[diggummup]

It looks like a Chinese cash coin from the early 1900's.

Really?

 

[Iron Patch]

Really?

Think he means something like this.

 

[Louisiana Ken]

I'm thinking I see part of a "C" or "S" on it. Could it be a rosette?

 

[Crawdigger]

I'm not sure if you guys can see it in the pics or not but I can make out a number 5 in the upper left quadrant and what appears to be the bottom of a "C" or possibly a "U" and then the "S".
I'm not sure what a rosette is and there is no history of Chinese people in the area.

 

[Iron Patch]

I'm not sure if you guys can see it in the pics or not but I can make out a number 5 in the upper left quadrant and what appears to be the bottom of a "C" or possibly a "U" and then the "S".
I'm not sure what a rosette is and there is no history of Chinese people in the area.

There definitely does not have to be history of Chinese people to find a Chinese coin.

 

[Crawdigger]

There definitely does not have to be history of Chinese people to find a Chinese coin.

. I absolutely agree. Although the chances would be far more likely. I was only implying that, knowing the history of the plantation, as well as the personal history of the original owner that I highly doubt it's Chinese in origin.

 

[allen]

I think William Boyd is right. The pic that Iron Patch posted looks extremely similiar to yours.

 

[Kaleb71386]

I think electrolysis works great and dose no harm.. But acid leaves a fog look after cleaning IMO.. Could be a Mexican coin?

 

[Crawdigger]

It may be a Mexican coin. Or from anywhere. I just don't know. I have continued searching since I first posted this and this is the closest I could find. Maybe it's not a coin at all??
I did find out that the 5th company, Washington Artillery was here. Could that be part of a unit buckle?

 

[Iron Patch]

It may be a Mexican coin. Or from anywhere. I just don't know. I have continued searching since I first posted this and this is the closest I could find. Maybe it's not a coin at all??
I did find out that the 5th company, Washington Artillery was here. Could that be part of a unit buckle?

Do you mean close as in a straight line through the earth is the closest way to get half way around the planet? I'm totally lost how you see that as being close.

 

[diggummup]

You mentioned lemon juice earlier in the thread. Has that accomplished anything yet? I think electrolysis would be best to help out on this one. No peroxide or lemon juice or anything other homemade concoction. How about an exact size and weight. That may help rule out a few things.

 

[Crawdigger]

Do you mean close as in a straight line through the earth is the closest way to get half way around the planet? I'm totally lost how you see that as being close.

Yeah. You're probably right. Don't know what I was thinking. Thanks for the input.

 

[Crawdigger]

You mentioned lemon juice earlier in the thread. Has that accomplished anything yet? I think electrolysis would be best to help out on this one. No peroxide or lemon juice or anything other homemade concoction. How about an exact size and weight. That may help rule out a few things.

The lemon juice worked ok on the surface dirt. Tomorrow I planned on doing electrolosis. I'll post the exact weight and size as well. Thanks diggummup.

 

[Iron Patch]

Yeah. You're probably right. Don't know what I was thinking. Thanks for the input.

It's called wishful thinking, and I don't think there's anyone on here that hasn't tried to talk their self into believing there find is something more than it is. I know I did it to some degree when I first started detecting, but now for me it's more a mission to know the truth no matter what it is. In the condition your find is I don't think you'll ever know for sure, so we can speculate on this thread for the next 5 years, but the end result will likely be the same.... that you just throw it in the bucket and move on. But sometimes even the slighest detail can get you an ID so even the roughest coins are worth a shot, as long as there's something to see.