English large cent maybe?

[Kapok]

I found this several years ago and have never been able to make out what it is. You can faintly see the image of a lion on it. The other side is nearly obliterated. I've tried Googling for similar coins but haven't seen anything like it. The lion (if that's what it is) is facing to the left and its tail is on the right pointing straight up.

 

[Aarong81]

Nice find! It is a Livery Button. The animal with a rope under it makes it obvious. That is also why you can't see anything on the back. Here are a couple variants of Livery Buttons similar to yours "Lion(Demi)"....
http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mdbXNLiLX38TEX0J9LkqylQ.jpg http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mOSLel52hjh2oayUp9GeSMg.jpg
http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mk-_soHsxVrxsOS2RT9iJUQ.jpg http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m5wOkMZOzbtINzNdqLVGLeA.jpg

Website that shows several Lion(Demi) Livery Buttons.
This site also has all other known Livery Buttons, I just linked to the type similar to yours.

"attached to a Livery Uniform, commissioned and paid for by the head of the household. These uniforms were used by the servants of the appropriate families on special occasions and were a display of the family 'colours'. They came in many different colours and styles conforming to family traditions and the whims of the head of the family. A couple examples are shown to illustrate the style of the time."
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkrbnucpTnw/UMi2Md7KWNI/AAAAAAAADr4/MIDMw7s4jsE/s1600/Livery%2520-%2520001.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMnlSP7-W8A/UMiskzT9eyI/AAAAAAAADq0/M_MvcChLigU/s1600/Livery+1.jpg
"Why do so many livery buttons get found by metal-detectorists in the UK? A few must surely have been lost whilst in use on the uniforms but that will not account for the hundreds found each year. A more likely reason was the practice of 'shoddy'; this is backed up by the many that are found in an otherwise rural and isolated area. Shoddy is where old clothes were either cut up or shredded and placed directly onto the land as a form of fertiliser. It seems that the buttons were no longer in fashion so were not recycled. Over the years the fabric will have rotted away, leaving us with just the buttons. This is the main reason for the thousands of buttons and buckles found by detectorists and their efforts are to be congratulated as they are unearthing unknown livery buttons and recording them here. I welcome good clear images of your found livery buttons, I can't guarantee an identification but I will give it my best shot."
SOURCE

 

[Kapok]

Wow, that is really awesome. I found it in Michigan on the grounds of what used to be a resort around the turn of the century. Before that it was a farm. Before that... who knows?

 

[1859large]

One other thing. Livery buttons where not warn by the family, just the servants. Your button probably got there on a servant to somebody visiting the resort.

HH

1859