1806 coin

[Lfras]

I posted this on the wrong forum earlier. A friend asked me to check out his inherited coins. This was in a bag of several coins going as far back as late 1700s.

 

[Lfras]

Maybe, "Boatswain Mate: Master" rating award in those days?

 

[glenn3-88]

No expert here but looks more like a store token than a coin

 

[Radical Relic Hunter]

Early Colonial period that has been personalized... What it looks like to me... I seem to remember reading about this being done..

 

[flinthunter]

Use a calipers and measure the exact diameter and post it for us. Also, what type of metal is it? It looks like silver in the photo but it might help to know for sure.

 

[Rototiller]

I have seen these before only they were on dime sized coins with no dates on them. Often people would smooth the faces off of coins and personalize them with their initials or decorate them with neat designs. I have heard them called hobo tokens. People would make these to sell for more money than the face value of the coin. Hence the name hobo token. My buddy found one made out of a Barber dime. You could barely make out the head of the dime. I have heard that they are sometimes quite valuable to collectors. Don't know the size of yours to guess what type of coin it may have been. If it was a coin.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Howdy Lfras--

My first thought when viewing your post was : What a cool "Love Token"! The significance of the inscriptions may never be learned.

Here is some info on Love Tokens:

http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2014/02/love-tokens-where-cold-hard-cash-and-romance-meet.html

Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[copper kidd]

seems I seen one just like this dug up on a Hoover Boys video.

 

[Lfras]

Thank you for your input. The coin is the size of a quarter and is made from silver. It was definitely a coin that was worn smooth prior to engraving.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Lfras--

The foliated script is similar to the Light Artillery buttons of the early 1800's. My Guess is that B.M. Master joined the Army on the 21st of April 1806 and was in a Light Artillery Regiment. This token was fashioned from a silver coin as a memento of his service. Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[Lfras]

Thanks Blind Squirrel It has certainly been interesting to try to chase it down on the internet. Maybe one day I'll solve it.

 

[Agseeker]

Is the edge milled or smooth? If the edge shows signs of milling then is is most likely a quarter.