Lead coin shaped times Found in revolutionary war area. Need help to identify.

Dogfisch · Oct 15, 2017

These coin shaped discs were found in an area in Massachucitts where I have found a lot of revolutionary war items. They are made of lead and are roughly the same size as a quarter. One is fairly thick and the other is very thin. Anyone have an idea what they are or were used for?

Coin Operated · Oct 15, 2017

Sometimes things like those are game markers.

Dogfisch · Oct 15, 2017

Coin Operated said:
Sometimes things like those are game markers.

Like chess or checkers? I haven't thought of that.

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Ohiodigger · Oct 15, 2017

I'd say counterfeit coins....

coin whisperer · Oct 15, 2017

Bale seals?

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Tom_in_CA · Oct 15, 2017

Dogfisch said:
Like chess or checkers? I haven't thought of that....

Yes, like poker chips and game pieces. Sounds silly today (in an era of plastic and mass production of throw-away items). But in yesteryear, they would take lead bullets or balls and smash them into round chip game pieces. And soldiers would whittle and carve bullets into various shapes, etc.....

coin whisperer said:
Bale seals? ....

In this particular case shown in the photo, they seem to big for that.

Dogfisch · Oct 15, 2017

I think thats most likely what they are. Thanks for the info much appreciated!

coin whisperer · Oct 15, 2017

Tom_in_CA said:
Yes, like poker chips and game pieces. Sounds silly today (in an era of plastic and mass production of throw-away items). But in yesteryear, they would take lead bullets or balls and smash them into round chip game pieces. And soldiers would whittle and carve bullets into various shapes, etc.....

In this particular case shown in the photo, they seem to big for that.

I’ve got some the size of half dollars

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Tom_in_CA · Oct 16, 2017

coin whisperer said:
I’ve got some the size of half dollars ...

Really ? And have you actually seen the 2 rusty wire protrusions sticking out, so that you knew they were bail-seals ? Perhaps so. I just have never seen a bail-seal bigger than a finger nail sized.

Tpmetal · Oct 16, 2017

Tom_in_CA said:
Yes, like poker chips and game pieces. Sounds silly today (in an era of plastic and mass production of throw-away items). But in yesteryear, they would take lead bullets or balls and smash them into round chip game pieces. And soldiers would whittle and carve bullets into various shapes, etc.....

In this particular case shown in the photo, they seem to big for that.

not that this looks like a bale seal to me, but i have one thats teh size of my palm, way bigger than a half dollar.

Tom_in_CA · Oct 16, 2017

Tpmetal said:
not that this looks like a bale seal to me, but i have one thats teh size of my palm, way bigger than a half dollar.

That's news to me. I just always assumed the larger ones were poker chips. And that only the finger-nail sized fat stubby ones were bail-seals. Will have to re-examine the next big one I find. To see if there's the little rust marks at the end, where the wire used to stick out. Thanx !

Tpmetal · Oct 16, 2017

Tom_in_CA said:
That's news to me. I just always assumed the larger ones were poker chips. And that only the finger-nail sized fat stubby ones were bail-seals. Will have to re-examine the next big one I find. To see if there's the little rust marks at the end, where the wire used to stick out. Thanx !

yeah mine is badly corroded and it was attached to a wire mesh it looks like. but I can still make out some letters not nice and round at all like these

amc rulz · Oct 16, 2017

I once dug a lead slug that had the mirror-image of a V nickel imprinted on it.
That item was dug on a rural ballfield that used to host traveling circuses.

Tom_in_CA · Oct 16, 2017

amc rulz said:
I once dug a lead slug that had the mirror-image of a V nickel imprinted on it.
That item was dug on a rural ballfield that used to host traveling circuses.

I got one of those too ! Like someone tried to do a counterfeit nickel, by imprinting the v-nickel impression into lead. Sheesk, talk about inflation !! No one counterfeits anything less than a $20 or $100 now, doh :roll:

blacksambellamy · Oct 17, 2017

So is this a game piece also or a button?

Lead coin shaped times Found in revolutionary war area. Need help to identify.

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