This is why I never throw away trash finds before closely examining them!

[West Jersey Detecting]

I went back to the site where I have continually found colonial artifacts and coins over the last few years. As I left, I was sure I got skunked. Not even an Indian Head!

As I was going through the trash I had found, I noticed the slight circular shape on this thin copper piece. I carefully brushed it and realized it is a keeper for sure. I have no idea what it is or it's age, but it is definitely old. It has a monogram on the top of the obverse, H.V.B. I cant tell for sure what the design on the reverse is, or what it means.

Does anyone have a clue what this object might be?

(Penny is for size comparison)

 

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[tymcmurray]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

I don't have any idea to help, but I like it.

 

[piggman1]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

Can't help ya, but be sure and check that trash. It looks really neat.

 

[laralucine]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

I have no idea what it is but it's cool!

 

[Prober]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

Maybe its a treasure map!

 

[uriykir]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

y u looking in garbage?

 

[Montana Jim]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

Interesting to be sure... a keeper...

 

[Twisted Fork]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

Maybe a KGC chapter I.D. Just a guess. Beautiful find, what a mystery.

 

[bookfisher]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

Sorry Neil, I haven't a clue what it is either. But it's definitely neat!

 

[Slabman]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

Hi Neil,
Nice find. I'm not positive, but I've seen similar items at an antique show,
and they were classified as "love tokens". Many times back in those days,
they didn't have a coin (or couldn't afford it) to turn into a love token, so they would take what
they could find, to pass on the lovey dovey stuff to their favorite girl.
I would put it on the electrolysis, as it should end up looking very nice!
HH Slabman

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

y u looking in garbage?

I think you missunderstood. At the end of the metal detecting day you should have accumulated metal trash (Read the Metal detecting Credo). If you are not accumulating trash as you hunt, then you are either: A- Not taking the trash you find with you, or B- Only digging that "sure bet" signal leaving tons of finds behind for others.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

Hi Neil,
Nice find. I'm not positive, but I've seen similar items at an antique show,
and they were classified as "love tokens". Many times back in those days,
they didn't have a coin (or couldn't afford it) to turn into a love token, so they would take what
they could find, to pass on the lovey dovey stuff to their favorite girl.
I would put it on the electrolysis, as it should end up looking very nice!
HH Slabman

I would think love toeks would have something written on them other than initials. I am not sure if you can see the initials, but they are definitely in a style that could possibly be colonial. You can definitely make out the fancy letter "V" near the top center left.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

y u looking in garbage?

I think you missunderstood. At the end of the metal detecting day you should have accumulated metal trash (Read the Metal detecting Credo). If you are not accumulating trash as you hunt, then you are either: A- Not taking the trash you find with you, or B- Only digging that "sure bet" signal leaving tons of finds behind for others.

Absolutely!

I think it looks like a lid to a pill box or small container

 

[River Rat]

No clue to what it is, but I sure would keep it. Hopefully someone can help ID it.

RR

 

[Waco Kid]

Maybe a bookmark? I see thin metal ones nowadays, but I don't know if they would have used anything like that in the old days.

 

[Wasabi]

Nice little work of art.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

An update:

The intials HVB may have belonged to one Hannah Bates, who was raised on or nearby the property. The Bates family lived on the land surrounding the woods from 1693 to well into the 1800's William Bates came to America from Ireland on the same boat as Mark Newby ( the same Mark Newby who brought the St. Patrick Farthings to America). William was either the grandfather or uncle of Hannah, I am not sure. but if it did belong to Hannah, this would date the piece about 1725, a true colonial artifact.

 

[JOe L]

An update:

The intials HVB may have belonged to one Hannah Bates, who was raised on or nearby the property. The Bates family lived on the land surrounding the woods from 1693 to well into the 1800's William Bates came to America from Ireland on the same boat as Mark Newby ( the same Mark Newby who brought the St. Patrick Farthings to America). William was either the grandfather or uncle of Hannah, I am not sure. but if it did belong to Hannah, this would date the piece about 1725, a true colonial artifact.

My guess was it looked like something old and if the above is the case, REAL nice find...

 

[jeff of pa]

Re: This is why I never throw away my metal trash before closely examining it!

Hi Neil,
Nice find. I'm not positive, but I've seen similar items at an antique show,
and they were classified as "love tokens". Many times back in those days,
they didn't have a coin (or couldn't afford it) to turn into a love token, so they would take what
they could find, to pass on the lovey dovey stuff to their favorite girl.
I would put it on the electrolysis, as it should end up looking very nice!
HH Slabman

Love tokens are Coins.

Looks like some type of Door Plate to me.
No Real Idea, But Very cool Find.

It pays to Recheck that trash

 

[dgaughan]

sorry no help tho gypsy seems to have a good idea congrats on a very cool find and thanks for the heads up i don't always check the junk before i toss congrats and hh