Can any of you fine people identify this coin please. I'm loathed to clean it as in case I remove any important detail ? What do you think ? 20mm Dia 2mm thick Seems to be 1 sided X20 Magnification shows deposits ? X20 Showing interesting colours & hairs? in the crevices... I'd love to know if you can help. Helen.
I have a general idea but your pics are a little blury. Don't want to guess & steer you in the wrong direction. I tagged those 2 members because I'm pretty sure they may know. Hopefully they or someone who does will chime in sometime today.
Can you provide more details? Where did you find it? What Country are you living in? How do you know it's silver? Did you metal detect it?
Hello Paddy , I'm in Yorkshire, England I'm guessing it's silver as there is no corrosion, or rust, where it has been handled it is shining. I am a scout leader and I am trying to identify it for one of my cubs, he is only 9yrs. He brought his collection for his badge. I don't know where he got it, but I will ask. I will try & take better pictures tomorrow. Thank you so much for your interest Paddy I'll get back to you. Helen.
I hope these pics are a bit clearer. The lad that brought them said his Grandad gave them to him just before he died. From my own pitiful research it maybe south Asian ? Sogdian ?? Should I attempt to clean it ? What with ? The deposits seem to be Calcium or clay ? I won't do anything before I get your advice & permission from James (the owner). Thanks. Helen x
Maybe report this post and have a mod move it to the world coins forum. Some of those guys are savants when it comes to Identifying stuff like this.
Due to it being uniface and having no discernible writing or recognizable symbols to identify the issuer, I sort of doubt it's a "coin", per-se. Granted, there is an incidental resemblance to the cast cash-coins of the East, but I suspect this is actually a decorated button. I'm guessing it had some sort of bridge across the middle of the hole for thread or leather to pass through and allow it to be sewn-on. It was lost when the bridge was broken - or the bridge was lost through corrosion if it was buried for some extended period and found via MD.
I do believe you could be right !!!! I'm a newbie I'll now seek permission to clean it. Thank you so much. Helen x
In your photo, the "rays" at 10:00 & 4:00 appear to have extended across the hole - the bridge broke through and left "pontils" that still protrude a little into the center.
Obviously, we are not button collectors. However, I still wouldn't clean it. To me, the dirt and patina shows its age, and is a really interesting part of its history. Before you clean it, consult with some button collectors and see what they recommend. Perhaps you could ask the British Button Society: http://www.britishbuttonsociety.org/home-page
Very true - "Patina is the imprimatur of age" - and this piece is already visually striking with its "sandy patina" in the field and the strongly contrasting black-patinated relief of the design. I'd leave it exactly this way unless you have some reason to fear it will deteriorate if not cleaned - this would be along the lines of evidence of a bad corrosive process ongoing or something similar
