Reflector?

[Geologyhound]

Don’t know what this is. It’s heavy like lead and not magnetic. The front is covered with a brass plate shaped over the back like the plastic cover of a modern pin badge. The back has a square-ish raised area like it was sheared off a mount of some sort. Cleaning the dirt off the back exposes some whitish areas, so it may be hardened lead as it does not scratch with my finger nail. No apparent detail on the front, just appears to be smooth. Shape-wise, it almost looks like some sort of reflector.

Any ideas?

 

[thepest]

My first thought is electrical... The disintegrating cardboard/cork liner on the one side is slotted... Like for a battery tab with a spring.... that came loose and pulled out... I'm Thinking mangled bottom of a small vintage flashlight.... maby ???

 

[Geologyhound]

Maybe. Seems a better guess then some I’ve heard. It was on a residential property where I have dug seven or eight coins all dated in the 1940s along with a popsicle token from the 30s and a pre-World War II good luck coin. Residential property on the 1898 topo. Three residences torn down in the last few years. This is off to the side of where one of the houses stood - close to the fence line and some mature trees. So they should’ve demo’d that building by pulling it the other way.

 

[thepest]

Maybe. Seems a better guess then some I’ve heard. It was on a residential property where I have dug seven or eight coins all dated in the 1940s along with a popsicle token from the 30s and a pre-World War II good luck coin. Residential property on the 1898 topo. Three residences torn down in the last few years. This is off to the side of where one of the houses stood - close to the fence line and some mature trees. So they should’ve demo’d that building by pulling it the other way.

Ahh... That gives me some new thought... I went back to your pictures and looked more closely... I am now thinking plumbing... specifically a 1920's to 40's drain plug.... really old pop up drains were typically yellow brass.... and there would be a chrome plated cover over the top of the plug... your picture of the bottom side looks like the edges have been pried open or off of something... the top side picture appears to have a soft dome shape which would be consistent with this thought... either way... It's a great mystery at the very least...

 

[Geologyhound]

That would explain why it appears to have attached to something on the backside. It is the right size and shape. Being intended for use in water would also explain why it’s not magnetic (don’t want your drain plug to rust). But, I can’t figure out why the notch the size and shape of a hole punch would be there.