Is it a coin or just pareidolia?

[oldmxrat]

Found this round disk, almost tossed it, but then I thought I could see some kind of design. It's 1" in diameter and very thin. The opposite side looks pretty smooth.
Any ideas?

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I would not toss it, looks like a toasted coin.

 

[CreakyDigger]

Tis a coin.

 

[ArfieBoy]

It looks like a highly worn coin to me. Or at the very least, a token.

 

[Jeff H]

Hmmmmm......not sure it is a coin. The combination of the very well defined rim/edge along with its thinness, makes me think it might be something else. I have plenty of slick and thin coppers but none with a nice rim like that. Interesting find. Hope someone can ID it.

​

 

[Florida Finder]

Found this round disk, almost tossed it, but then I thought I could see some kind of design. It's 1" in diameter and very thin. The opposite side looks pretty smooth.
Any ideas?

That looks like a coin to me

 

[Greastart]

Where's Don when we need him?

 

[leadnugget]

Found this round disk, almost tossed it, but then I thought I could see some kind of design. It's 1" in diameter and very thin. The opposite side looks pretty smooth.
Any ideas?

i think its a coin. i have a few silver coins that are that slick. get it wet and hit it with a hair dryer as the water evaporates you might be able
to see more details.

 

[jeff of pa]

I agree a Coin or Token.

But Unfortunately what I see Doesn't fit it's Obvious Age.

I see a Bear With a Weapon of some Type
And a witch in a Mirror or the Joker in a Window with his Tongue Out

Unfortunately it Changes with Rotation at one point I thought I saw a Klansman but it's Probably probably 18th 0r early 19th Century, Canadian or colonial, But only Guessing

 

[oldmxrat]

I agree a Coin or Token.

But Unfortunately what I see Doesn't fit it's Obvious Age.

I see a Bear With a Weapon of some Type
And a witch in a Mirror or the Joker in a Window with his Tongue Out

View attachment 1997587

Unfortunately it Changes with Rotation at one point I thought I saw a Klansman but it's Probably probably 18th 0r early 19th Century, Canadian or colonial, But only Guessing

View attachment 1997588

Yeah, that's my problem, I see all kinds of different things every time I rotate it a bit.
This thing is going to drive me crazy.

 

[jeff741972]

i see bart simpson running with his arms up

 

[jeff of pa]

maybe a flag. not necessarily American

 

[Digger RJ]

Found this round disk, almost tossed it, but then I thought I could see some kind of design. It's 1" in diameter and very thin. The opposite side looks pretty smooth.
Any ideas?

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[mike b]

Thats a spacer.

 

[CRUSADER]

It was a coin, tough one to pin down!

 

[pepperj]

Photo #3 measure from the circle to the outside rim.
Reasons being it looks like a very worn, where a shank was attached.

 

[oldmxrat]

Photo #3 measure from the circle to the outside rim.
Reasons being it looks like a very worn, where a shank was attached.
View attachment 1997678

That spot is a little off center, but I suppose it could still be where a shank was attached.

 

[gcchadwick]

Found this round disk, almost tossed it, but then I thought I could see some kind of design. It's 1" in diameter and very thin. The opposite side looks pretty smooth.
Any ideas?

I see 6 things.
1. A worked edge.
2. A hitching post.
3. What looks to be a covered bridge.
4. Looks like the sun just about go down behind the ridge.
5. Shadow cast by the bridge.
6. Shadow side of ridge.
Thats what i see.

 

[oldmxrat]

I see 6 things.
1. A worked edge.
2. A hitching post.
3. What looks to be a covered bridge.
4. Looks like the sun just about go down behind the ridge.
5. Shadow cast by the bridge.
6. Shadow side of ridge.
Thats what i see.

Interesting, thanks for your input!

 

[CC Hunter]

The object appears to certainly have some faint design detail on both sides, so likely a coin or token as previously mentioned here. Trying to decipher the design details is about like looking at clouds in the sky though, as suddenly the mind creates all types of shape associations that change with every angle. The best approach is process of elimination to pin down a time period first. Coins and some tokens that circulated as coins long ago, could circulate a good 40-50 years, before they became entirely slick without defining details. Ascertain a rough time period of the site location this came from, based on known history and other finds, then subtract a number of years for circulation wear. Example: The recovery location is around 1870’s-1880’s, minus 40-50 years circulation, then possibly an 1820’s-1840’s coin/token. Then measure diameter and weight of this, in millimeters and grams, taking into consideration there will be circulation loss there as well. Proceed with the rough time frame and size/weight info, and look through foreign coin reference books and catalogs.

Over the years I personally dug all types of odd foreign coins from Europe, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, etc.. Having purchased several of Krause’s reference books on coins helped immensely in identification. Looking at non-dug coins of the same approximate age and size, makes it much easier to interpret the details on a worn crusty dug coin, because often we will see what to look for! Otherwise we are trying to connect dots that maybe do not even exist. 😉