Need help identifying host coin...

coinpictures

I posted about this Columbian Exposition elongated nickel over on the Lightside. I surmised the host was a U.S. shield nickel, but as was pointed out, a shield nickel would not have the stars at the top. It's possible the host may be a Darkside piece... I was thinking Central or South America, but have not yet found it... does anyone recognize the shield and stars motif?

Or could it possibly some sort of Civil War token?

TwoKopeiki

Doesn't ring a bell, however it looks more U.S. (confederate, perhaps? 13 stars?) than Darkside, in my opinion.

Blackhawk

Maybe a pattern?

1960NYGiants

It's not a US Shield nickel?

Blackhawk

Maybe a suttlers token

coinpictures

<< <i>It's not a US Shield nickel? >>



I initially thought it was, but as other have pointed out, a shield nickel does not have stars on the field... the 13 stars does seem indicative of a Confederate piece of some sort.

As I just posted ATS:

<< <i>It's an odd piece, a Columbian Exposition elongated piece, then inscribed... although oddly the date inscribed predates when the elongated piece would have been made. Perhaps the product of a Civil War re-enactor? Doesn't make sense though, as I would assume that both the Columbian Exposition and the date 1888 would be out-of-era for a re-enactor. Perhaps the existing elongated coin was later used out of convenience to create a dogtag or luggage tag? But then why the 1888 date? Birth date perhaps?

Weird.

I initially thought that the host was a shield nickel, but as was pointed out to me, shield nickels don't have stars on the field. Could the 13 stars mean it's a confederate piece of some sort?

Certainly a bizarro piece. >>