What did they call this?

[adamgoldminer]

Found with a metal detector in an old turn of the century mining camp are two pieces of a silver dime positively identified as a barber dime. Sorry no pics.

The thing is these are pieces that were cut off of a whole dime. I know they did this to make change way back in the day. These cuts are just part of the rim, don't contain the face, my guess is they were 2 cent piece or so.

I don't need help identifying this but I don't know what they call it so I can do some research. Can anybody help.

Also found a whole bunch of square nails, and a handful of tobacco tin tabs some still readable as P Lorillard and Co Climax Grade, finally one very interesting button that I'll take some pictures of to see if somebody has some info.

Thanks,

Adam

 

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[BioProfessor]

Does this help?

In America cutting coins to make “frontier
change” was a common practice when roughing it. Cut pieces of whole coins were known as
“sharp-shins” or the “sharp silver” since the cut silver pieces did have sharp edges and points.


Daryl

 

[TreasureTales]

Daryl seems to have it nailed down. On the other hand, perhaps it was known as "my 2 cents worth?"
I think that would be a very interesting find. Congrats on finding something unusual.

 

[trikikiwi]

Out of curiosity
What tool was used, for the cutting of the coin?
Cheers, Mike

 

[BioProfessor]

My research indicated an ax or hatchet were used most of the time but a large knife and a something to hit it was sometimes used by necessity. You know, like being in line at the trading post and not having your ax or anything.

I also found that they may have used "landmarks" on the coin to make the cut. Don't know if that is true or not. If it is, the pieces would be cut in the same places.

Daryl