A First......

[Old Dude]

......but what the heck is it?
Hi all. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Got out a couple times today. It was a school kind of day for me. Went this morning to an old elementary that gave me my 1905 English Penny last year. Got some battery money, lol. Decided this afternoon to go to a high school in the area that gave me some broken gold jewelry last year. The first target was a solid 71 on the AT Pro but sounded odd. Not that bright tone like a shallow Zincoln, but still an interesting one. Pinpointing put it at between 6-8 inches. When I first got it out of the hole, the thing looked like a nickel with the exception of a deep green patina. I thought I had found my second V nickel and started rubbing the dirt. I could see what looked like a shield and a date of 186? Was pretty sure I had a shield nickel. I got home and started rubbing it with water and fingers. Could still see a shield. After some tooth picking ( no HP this time! ) it seems the date has disappeared. I have absolutely NO luck with crusty coins. I measured the coin and found out it is NOT a shield nickel. The diameter is too big. Would be 20.5 mm if it were. A 2 cent piece is possible. They are 23 mm. My coin ( token? ) is just under 22.5 mm, but could have worn a half mm, I suppose. Please throw your educated guesses in and thanks for looking!

 

[Old Dude]

Well, folks.....it's time for this thread to die. I promised more pics of the coin after cleaning. It has only been 3 days now, but I have been soaking it in mineral oil and once per day have used a toothpick to pick away at the green discoloration. I would then use water and baking soda to further clean it. I'd then return it to the oil till the next day and start over with the routine. Unfortunately, it is beyond salvaging any detail. I do still believe it is an American 2 cent piece. I thank all who replied and appreciate the comments. HH and God Bless!

 

[shawninNY]

Thank you for your 2 cents worth!

 

[HCW]

I came into this way too late and didn't have time to read all responses, but I have never seen a 2 cent piece come out of the ground looking bad, especially that bad. I have dug shield nickels looking that bad though.
So if it does turn out to be a 2 center, it spent some time in an acid bath or something.

 

[shawninNY]

Same alloy as Indian head some get concretions some don't

 

[Diggin Dude]

Hey OD great thread! Too bad it wouldn't clean up better. Nice find though. Keep swinging!