What to do about this coin.

My grandmother passed away almost a year ago, and left me her jewelry box. In it, is this coin, but the problem is, it's so...idk what the word is, corroded, dirty maybe? That I have absolutely no idea what the coin is. I don't even know what country it's from. In fact I can't be 100% positive that it's even a coin at all, that's how bad it is. Is there anything I can do with it, so I at least know what it is? I'm not concerned about altering it's monetary value if it's anything nice, because I would never ever sell something so sentimental, but I really want to know what it is. I know they say not to clean your coins. But help!

 

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Could you possibly post a picture? That'll help a lot. And, how large is it, exactly?

 

Yes don't clean it and Yes do post a picture and we can help.

 

Here's a pic with a penny for size comparison. The object is very thin too. I think it's a coin because I found it next to a Centavos.

 

looks like smashed gum!

 

I know lol, but it's not, that I'm fairly sure of.

 

Your coin's diameter appears to be about 1.25 times greater than the cent. That would put it in the range of either a 2-cent piece (23mm), a half-cent (23.5mm) or a quarter (24.3mm). The 2-cent weighs 6.22g, the half-cent weighs 6.74g, both pretty much the same as the silver quarter which weighs 6.25g. If you can get more precise diameter and weight measurements it would help in its identification.

 

If it's that size and thin, I'd guess a 20 cent piece. They tend to thin out more so than other coins for whatever reason. In that condition, I'd say clean it, as it's not going to do further damage obviously.

 

It's late, and I'm probably seeing things, but does anyone else think it looks like a duit/New York Penny? I feel like I can sort of see the shield in the middle.

http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-COLONIAL-NEW-YORK-PENNY-DUTCH-DUIT-US-COIN-/170655401865?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item27bbdac789#ht_753wt_902
I am fairly sure it's not possible to restore, though. Which is a bummer.

 

I don't believe it's any of those coins mentioned above unless it's been smashed and knocked out of round. It would take a LOT of rust/corrosion to give it that shape.

 

WOW..thats a bad coin

 

I know nothing about this, but could it be an ancient coin??

 

is there a grade below poor-1 ?

unidentifiable-0 ?

 

Well it's not as if I expect it to be anything nice, it's just something I found in my grandmas old things, I honestly just want to know what it is. Like I said, I'm not even sure it's American.

 

Can't really see mush in that picture. I was wondering about a spanish colonies 1 or 2 reales piece. Size is about right and an early one (cob type) would be irregular in shape and thin. There is also the possibility of many other early foriegn coins. Can you get a clearer picture and pictures of the back as well?

 

reales

 

Maybe just put it in olive oil and soak it for a week at a time? At this point you have to identify it to see if it has any value.

 

scan it both sides

and try to write what is written on it ?

 

Probably from the great depression. A lot of people were pinching pennies back then.

 

Looks like a fossil of a coin. Or its seen to many slot machines