Unidentified Coin

[psgen]

I've had so much success getting coins identified here on the forum.....I've got yet another one for everyone to help with........I found this back in 2004 and have yet to get a positive id on it........it's worn pretty thin but I can definitely see a bust on the obverse....but I can't make out anything on the reverse........with the help of photoshop I've added some black line to help make things stand out a bit more.......As always any an all help is greatly appreciated.....Enjoy
Psgen

 

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[junkdigger]

Geepers,psgen,that coin,if that's what it really is,well....it's plum worn out! I found a possible match in my coin book.The braided hair half cent was a U.S. coin minted from 1840-1857.It was 23 millimeter in diameter,and weighed 5.44 grams when made.So,maybe it lost a millimeter and almost 4 grams during its time in circulation. Possibly so.Look up that coin and see if you agree.

 

[psgen]

I don't think it's U.S. ....... but I could be mistaken.......

 

[DJ_Quinn]

Looks more like a copper slug than a coin?

 

[Batch]

Well I don't usually chime in unless I have an idea to the proper ID of an item <smile> but this time I will offer an argument for the "what it isn't" side. For three reasons, I don't believe it is a coin either. One reason is the three flat sides...that just doesn't feel "coiny" to me (like my made up words? <grin>). When I first looked at this item I said, "Oh sure, I can see the profile." Then I looked closer and realized the brow/forehead area on the "obverse" appears to be a result of the thing being poked by psgen's digging tool or probe. And finally, from the photos it appears the possible profile would be the result of embossing (like old-style license plates)...i.e., the "reverse" side looks to have matching indentations to the "obverse's" raised areas. While my experience is admittedly limited, I've never seen a coin made in such a manner. I hope I haven't butted in too much...good luck with a positive ID psgen!

No matter where you go, there you are! HH to all.

Batch

 

[lucky1777]

I enlarged your picture to 400% and still could not recognize any details. The flat spots to me indicate that it must be some kind of knock out and these are where it wast attached.

 

[psgen]

The only argument I offer as to it not being a punch out is that it made of Brass/Copper and I'm not aware of punch out being made of these materials..........A local coin dealers has positively identified it as a coin, but wasn't able to tell me from where or when........I thank you all for the input.....
Psgen

 

[MD]

Looks like one of these. See the bust in there? Just kidding!
Psgen, I found a penny ran over by a train near the tracks a while back. I could still make out Lincoln. However it was elongated rather than a cirlce because of the way it was ran over. I wonder if your coin could have been put in a press with an even compression leaving it round, thinner, and larger diameter.

 

[steveh55]

I don't know what you have found but I can tell you as kids we would put pennies on the train tracks and some of them looked a lot like what you have. Hope you get a definite ID soon.

 

[psgen]

Rule out it being copper......It's most likely brass/bronze......after a bit of careful cleaning a gold color surface appeared..... local jeweler did an acid test to rule out it being gold..... even though I already knew it wasn't gold.....but he was curious and he didn't charge me, so what to heck.......

So we're looking for is a 22mm Brass/Bronze non-U.S. Coin or Token......flat spots could be from wear, alteration, or damage. I've heard tell that one way of making change in early days was to actual cut off a piece of the coin......which might explain these flat spots as well.........who really knows.......
As to the question of cleaning, which has always and will continue to remain a topic of heated debate....without proper identification, the coin/ item is worthless. Cleaning for identification purposes should still be used with great caution making sure not to further damage the coin/ item........and only doing what is necessary for identification purposes...just one person's thoughts

Psgen

 

[southbound]

Could it be a brittish penny?

 

[lordmarcovan]

What's it taste like?

Is there white stuff in the middle?

Maybe it looked like this, before it got worn down?