anybody know what this coin/token is ?

[dfmike]

I found this in an old schoolyard. It has no lettering or none that I can make out on either side. The copper is smoothed out on both sides which makes me think it is weathered/old. It is about the size of a quarter.

There is a simple seated stick figure on one side. It seems to be holding something in his arms/hands but I can't make it out. Any clue ? Thanks.

 

[HuntinDog]

Space Alien token... Good for one free drink...

No Really I have no idea, but it is a cool token

 

[dfmike]

I thought that the token was proof that aliens were here before us but didn't want to admit it.

 

[Agseeker]

With a trident in his right hand and a halo around his head I thinks its a depiction of St. Neptune relaxing at the beach.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

It's finds like what you found that makes me wonder if sometimes we find things that are many thousands of years old left from lost civilizations.

 

[dfmike]

At the least I'd like to have an idea of how old it is or more precisely how many years it's been laying in the ground. The place I found it was farmland in the late 1800's before a school was constructed. I found a 1945 silver quarter and 1923 nickel a few feet from it at the same depth (approx. 5 inch). I've tried a google search for seated man token, seated man stick figure coin, etc. and nothing I have found in the images that came up look even remotely like it. My guess is that it was probably a novelty token done in very limited quantities that allowed somebody to have something for free, play a game in a fair or something, etc. I wish there was some lettering on it but either there wasn't or it was erased with time.

 

[Mercdimer]

The "legs" look very similar to a praying mantis insect. Nice find.

 

[all iron]

Praying mantis sitting in a 4 legged seat of some sort kicked back relaxing

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Is there any writing at all on the other side? Or is it just completely blank?

 

[Walknstik]

Interesting find and not much help here from me but Picasso (famous artist) back in the day was noted for strange line/stick drawings similar to this design on your find? Good luck with ID!

 

[Elton]

Could that be a scorpion and not a Mantis.. If so, possible horoscope sign .. ???????????????????????????????

 

[grantham]

Hey Dfmike, I keep coming back to this coin.

The figure looks to be a more modern interpretation of the 'stick figure.' The arms, legs are boomerangs to represent 3 demential form. Undeveloped stick figures from cave carvings/drawings etc use lines (2D) because they could not depict 3d.

The chair/papapsan is native of the Philippines and centuries old, but American soldiers discovered them during World War II. Which led to the modern use in the 1950's.

The recess in the center/chair suggest that the metal was cut out to reveal the negative space around the figure, also the negative space of the chair looks to be of another material like filled in with an epoxy, resin.
The chair legs and the oversized dots are a style of jewelry sheet metal cutting. I was taught this method in college. Using a tiny drill bit and then threading a small coping saw blade through the hole, you can then cut any shape or line from the drill hole this is limited of course to the depth of the coping saw.
Judging by the machining, the artistic style and the reference to the chair, I would say this was made no earlier than the 50-60's.

I would love to see the back side. Can you post a pic of the back when you get a chance.

 

[rferrari]

Appears to be stylized in the Calder art form. Peace