Colonial/Rev War Copper? Button? Marked I6 or 16

[spudnutt]

This copper coin or button was dug in Massachusetts in a Rev War battle area. At first I thought it was a button but there is no evidence of a shank ever being on it. It's about the size of a large cent and weighs about the same as well. I thought the marking said 16 but at closer glance it looks like I6. Anyone have any idea??

 

[TNGUNS]

Wow....been waiting and waiting for one of our crew to identify this one and no luck yet. Wish I knew.

 

[spudnutt]

Wow....been waiting and waiting for one of our crew to identify this one and no luck yet. Wish I knew.

I wish I knew too! haha I've never seen anything like it before. The more I look at it and feel the weight/size of it, the more I'm sure it's not a button.

 

[A/CMan]

Take a photo of the back of it. Might help

 

[spudnutt]

Take a photo of the back of it. Might help

There are photos of the back posted

 

[CRUSADER]

Well the 16th Regiment of Foot were involved in the Rev War 1776. The 1s were often 'I' like in this period. The problem is that as far as I know they were all pewter in the period:
Najecki Reproductions (16th Buttons)
Therefore, it's a bit of a Mystery, I think it likely to be non-British.

 

[A/CMan]

There are photos of the back posted

Sorry I didn't see them my bad! HH AC

 

[hogge]

Pretty kool.....Coin weight maybe?

 

[Gunrunner61]

I swear I think that I can see a profile facing right on the first picture........jmho.........................HH

 

[CRUSADER]

I swear I think that I can see a profile facing right on the first picture........jmho.........................HH

If you can then it must be a Coin Weight.

 

[spudnutt]

If you can then it must be a Coin Weight.

So what is a coin weight exactly? Is it rare, or were these common?

 

[CRUSADER]

So what is a coin weight exactly? Is it rare, or were these common?

They were used to check the weight of gold coins, so that traders didn't get ripped off by fakes. Coin weights have been around since about the 13th C in the UK. They are fairly scarce & collectable, but not very expensive.

 

[hogge]

My brother found 1 this past spring. Has a Fleur De Le () on it. Pretty kool, and collectible, but there are alot of different ones from my research. Some are rare. Nice find. Most were made to weigh, the gold coin pictured on the weight. I can see something in the first pic also.