Toasted large cent?

dts52 · May 16, 2019

Found this in "the cornfield" which years back yielded two completely toasted discs which, based on their size and weight, TNet members surmised had once been large cents. The one found today has a tiny bit of the original face left (I think). I believe I can make out the letters "ber" just to the left of the hole. It appears that the only remaining copper is the green material, right? The rest is non-metallic but doesn't seem to be copper. Was this possibly a counterfeit? If it is, how does one even break even by counterfeiting one cent pieces? Seems to me that time and material required to make a passable fake would exceed the value.

NOTE: Sorry, the photo should be rotated 90 degrees to the right. In the picture as shown, the lettering is below the hole.
HH
dts

Trezurehunter · May 16, 2019

Its always a tough call when they are in that shape. Good luck on your quest for an ID.

Hawks88 · May 16, 2019

Interesting find. Congrats. I’m no expert but possibly a coin or token.

paleomaxx · May 16, 2019

Either a classic head or matron head large cent (1808-1838). The lettering you're seeing is what's left of the Liberty in the headband. The green material is patina remnants which are a mixture of copper sulfates, carbonates, and nitrates from soil action. The material below it is the copper with a layer of copper oxide. The fairly pure copper planchets used to make large cents do particularly badly in fields so it's not unusual to find them in that shape, although sometimes you get lucky.

dts52 · May 16, 2019

paleomaxx said:
Either a classic head or matron head large cent (1808-1838). The lettering you're seeing is what's left of the Liberty in the headband. The green material is patina remnants which are a mixture of copper sulfates, carbonates, and nitrates from soil action. The material below it is the copper with a layer of copper oxide. The fairly pure copper planchets used to make large cents do particularly badly in fields so it's not unusual to find them in that shape, although sometimes you get lucky.

Thanks for the information. I don't know why this particular cornfield eats up coins that way. Maybe all the fertilizer over the years, or just another strike against Connecticut in general?
HH
dts