Flattened mini balls

[steve in so la]

Here's some mini balls that I have dug over the years. I understand that the soldiers flattened them to use as poker chips. You can see the rings , particularly on the upper middle one yet. And all of them are evenly flattened, not bumpy or such. Does anyone have more insight to these ? steve in so az

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[Digdoug]

Interesting. I bet I've thrown several of those away not realizing what they were.

 

[Anonymous]

No, not any more than that they were used as poker chips and maybe to bite down on when surgery was done...like biting the bullet when facing a hard trial! God Bless! Betty

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

I have seen many flattened ones also. Most of the poker chips I have seen look more like a spanish coin. mostly round but some kinda squared corners.
I suppose it depended on how fast the needed them if the hit them once or twice or wanted them more like a coin. Nice finds!

 

[steve in so la]

Doug - I have kept just about everything from my old forts that I dig. I must have 25 lbs of fired bullets plus these things. Got a kazillion eagle buttons that were squished. Dont know any way to put them back to normal. Steve

 

[RickIowa2009]

Neat find

 

[Digdoug]

Any idea why the buttons are flattened? Has there been any construction on or near those old forts? It seems strange that the buttons would be flattened purposely.

The largest lead I have found was a bar of plumbers lead that weighs 5lbs. I thought sure I had found a bar of gold hidden by a old timer. It was near the base of a 100 year old sycamore tree in my backyard.

 

[steve in so la]

My theory is that cows & horses stepped on them before they were layered underground. The sites I usually hunt is an old ranch - no roads or construction, etc anywhere.Steve

 

[Greg from Mi.]

they were flattened by a train like people putting coins on the rails?
Greg

 

[Graw]

I didn't know about Flattened mini balls -- Thanks

 

[steve in so la]

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[burien]

I never heard the poker chip idea, but I know from my flintlock shooting that flattened lead is used to hold the flint in place in the jaws.

 

[edjcox]

Perhaps they were easier to smelt and reform this way..

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

n/t