What is this coin-like object?
November 3, 2011 1:12 PM   Subscribe

Another mysterious metal object...Help!

So, this coin-like object was found on the same eighteenth century Charleston plantation as my previously-posted flintlock pistol butt (thanks, everyone, for helping with that one!). It feels and looks like lead, and is roughly the size of a quarter, but thicker. You can sort of see it in the photos, but it almost looks layered...weird.

MeFi geniuses, do your worst.
posted by SixteenTons to Science & Nature (13 answers total)
 
A seal?
posted by swift at 1:15 PM on November 3, 2011 [1 favorite]


Bottle Cap? Wild guess.
posted by humboldt32 at 1:18 PM on November 3, 2011


Looks like it has this text on it:

One side: "No. 12"

Other side:
In center: BURY
Around perimeter, these fragments (dashes represent destroyed areas where we can't tell if there was text originally): -OOD JOHN- -DYSON-
posted by LobsterMitten at 1:19 PM on November 3, 2011




My first thought was that it might be a fire insurance plaque, but I think it's probably too small for that.
posted by LobsterMitten at 1:22 PM on November 3, 2011


If it were a seal, meant to be printed into wax, wouldn't the text be printed on the seal in reverse? And why would there be a number on the back side?
posted by LobsterMitten at 1:23 PM on November 3, 2011


It's a Token coin, aka a tradesmen's token. See here.
posted by Paragon at 1:24 PM on November 3, 2011


Hm, maybe I'm wrong about that; here's an example of a lead seal with the text written non-reversed, like your example.
posted by LobsterMitten at 1:26 PM on November 3, 2011


Best answer: A bale seal?

I don't think it's a token, because it doesn't list a denomination?
posted by empath at 1:30 PM on November 3, 2011


Best answer: Here's a bunch of them.
posted by empath at 1:34 PM on November 3, 2011 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: empath, I'm really liking the bale seal theory--they seem to share exactly the same layering traits, and actually look very similar overall. Mine's a bit more circular than most of the ones in the second link, but I see some in your first link that are comparable.

By the way, I like that cat in melon helmet is stuck in amongst all the bale seals on the google search page.
posted by SixteenTons at 2:34 PM on November 3, 2011


Response by poster: I also think it could conceivably be a seal, as per swift's and General Tonic's suggestions, but the bale seals seem much more similar.

Yay! (I think.)
posted by SixteenTons at 2:36 PM on November 3, 2011


Yeah, in this type of lead seal, the lead is the receptor--the "wax" in this case. We sell lead seals; they are used with currency bags. After closing the bag, the seal, along with an embosser (looks like a beefy pliers), makes for a tamper-evident closure on the bag.
posted by xedrik at 4:25 PM on November 3, 2011 [1 favorite]


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