Question for thought

[Old Dude]

I made a post in Today's Finds concerning an old copper found while detecting. There is no detail left to make an ID as to the type or era. I weighed and measured it hoping to get enough info to make a call. If it is a US large cent, it would have had to lose 3 grams and a millimeter in size. This leads to my question : do you think a U.S. LC would actually lose that much of it's weight while in the ground? It was found in a corn field that gets fertilized each spring.
I know there isn't a way to test this, but would like your theories and thoughts.

 

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[bigfoot1]

my guess...and only a guess is no.more likely a british or a token.3 grams is like a ton

 

[Old Dude]

Thanks, Bigfoot....that was my thought too. 3 grams is a huge percentage.

 

[DigIron2]

I think that if a place has been heavily fertilized for a very long time the fertilizer can actually eat away the copper itself in some cases,making the coin thinner and lighter? just a theory,but good question.

 

[Old Dude]

Thanks DI2, but don't you think there would be some major damage if that much of the coin was lost? On this, it is basically just blank on both sides. I have a couple King George II's and several LC's, and this one is still just as thick as they are. Just no details.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

I have found 2 clad quarters in the water at the beach that were well worn down and very thin, and change that has gone thru the wash machine that the edges are worn away on. But my dug LC even though dateless, was close to it's original size.

 

[DigIron2]

Thanks DI2, but don't you think there would be some major damage if that much of the coin was lost? On this, it is basically just blank on both sides. I have a couple King George II's and several LC's, and this one is still just as thick as they are. Just no details.

I really don't know what I am talking aboutBut I'm guessing it might not be the case in the one you found.