Strange Large Cent Find. Any ideas?

[1digger]

Found this week in an open field I received permission to search in, near two late 18oo's houses. I initially thought it was a large cent, but then noting the thinness and the strange concentric rings on the back, decided that it must be a button. When I got home I realized there was no shank (which a flat button certainly would have, or the remains of it). Then I noticed the vague bust on the front, at least one star and a faint "8". I'm concluding that it was at one time a Matron Head Cent (1816 -1839 I think) from the shape, but why was it ground thin and what are the circles on the back? The circles initially look like silver plate, but now I am wondering if they are related to an application process, like to a brooch or hair pin?

 

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[Limitool]

No idea buddy... but damn if it isn't thin (you're right). Can't wait to hear from "experts" and others.... Brad

 

[treblehunter]

Looks very interesting, sure looks like a Coronet/Matron, looks like it has allot of dirt on it, might be able to see something if you cleaned it, HP/ oil.Your call.

 

[MackDog]

Might be modified on back like they used to make love tokens or other pieces

 

[Old Dude]

Do you have digital calipers to measure it? Sure looks like Lady Liberty and stars of an LC.

 

[Iron Patch]

It's not too uncommon to see distorted coins as a result of one coin being hammered into the other, so what this could be is possibly a tombac button hammered into the coin... and there is buttons with that same type of design.

 

[1digger]

Old Dude pretty sure it is Lady Liberty from the wideness of the bust -don't have calipers but is exactly the size of a Lady Liberty I have. Iron Patch -interesting -thanks for the ideas!

 

[johnnyi]

Spun for a button I think. I found a George like that once, but more crudely lathe spun.

 

[Iron Patch]

Old Dude pretty sure it is Lady Liberty from the wideness of the bust -don't have calipers but is exactly the size of a Lady Liberty I have. Iron Patch -interesting -thanks for the ideas!

I'm sure there will be another idea or two, and the button theory I can't fully accept because you'd think there would be some detail left from the coin. Maybe if it was hit hard enough? Not sure.

 

[Argentium]

The hammered idea is interesting , but if so wouldn't the diameter be larger than the standard Coronet large cent ? could the
circles on the reverse be a result of a lathe - and might that also account for how thin the piece is ? lots of mystery here ,
I find it fascinating that we encounter just these sort of mysteries here almost daily !

 

[Ahab8]

That spun look resembles the back of some Tombac buttons. It almost looks like there was a shank in the center at one time.... at least from the pic. Cool find whatever it might be

 

[OWK]

Definitely a Matron Head.

Definitely spun down. Looks like a lathe turning, but there'd be no way for anyone but a jeweler to chuck it up. It would have to have been turned on the end of a dop stick. Jewelers use a dop stick and hard wax to affix gems, and other things so that they stay put while being polished or turned. the stick could then be chucked, spinning the coin.

The plating intrigues me. It would be interesting to see if there is any indication of that silver color on the front. It might also give some hint as to when the work was done. If it is silver colored on both sides, it was likely electroplated and done later (1855 or later). If it is only one one side, it is more likely to have been fire-amalgum deposited (and therefore earlier).

It is also possible that the spun side of the coin was the side meant to be seen.

Anyway.. enough speculation... interesting piece.

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

That's a very interesting find..............sure looks lathe turned............but that's just my opinion!

 

[WHADIFIND]

WOW! What kind of fertilizer are you guys using out there!?!?! LOL

 

[JerV3]

That's a nice find. Someone prob took a worn out lc and wanted to male a cool flat button out of it

 

[cjon455]

I like the lathe idea, whatever it is its definitely cool!!

 

[DMN]

If you look at the picture of the back you can definitely see the laurel at the bottom of the object. If it was spun on a lathe I wonder if you would see any detail remaining. IP's button theory seems more plausible. It will be nice to hear from other knowledgable people though.
Either way, a cool, cool find.

 

[Garrett424]

I have no clue about your coin but it's definitely a nice find.
Congrats on your unusual LC. It may just be one of a kind.

 

[Old Dude]

That item you found is indeed a button and the side with the rings is where the shank has worn off. Look at it under a magnifying glass and in the center you will see a slight indentation. Usually they would just break off and leave a slight depression. Period of use; 1700-1850.

Unless the person making the button ( maybe an apprentice jeweler ) was a novice and made a " cold " solder joint, there should be remnants of solder at the very least if a shank had been attached. Maybe the coin was readied for the shank but never made it that far for some reason? VERY cool find and all the ideas just make it even more so.

 

[Fingerlakes119]

The front does look like a large cent. The back looks like it has been machined. It possibly was going to be used for something else. My son found a large cent that was made in to a button by having 4 holes punched through the center of it. It wasn't so easiy to get to a store or find supplies. You used what you had in the old days.