Is this a CW ID disc?

[Locko48]

Looking for thoughts from those with much more expertise than myself. The attached is an 1833 Large Cent, with the reverse filed flat and engraved with "27 IBK". Are there many examples of ID discs which only include initials? I recognize it would be unlikely to be able to identify a specific soldier - but I am curious to consensus if it is Civil War related.

It belonged to my wife's grandfather who passed in the 1950s - he worked in salvage/junk yards in Phila. It was in a collection of coins and tokens he kept in a box on his bureau. His great grandfather was in the 28th PA and marched through the south with Sherman. His grandfather was in the navy and was at Mobile Bay on the USS Brooklyn. Another grandfather served three years on the USS Keystone State. The information on the coin doesn't match anyone from his family tree - not sure how he obtained it - or why he kept it.

Thanks for any feedback - Tom OConnor

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy. Not a clue, sorry.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Seems to be some space between the shown numeric digits of '2' and '7', so don't know for certain whether '27' was a reference to a unit number.

Thought the engraved alpha characters of 'IBK appear to be full name initials.

Found the below work (note its front cover picture) on Union soldier's identity discs (if any) worn in the CW that might be helpful.

'Identification Discs of Union Soldiers in the Civil War: A Complete Classification Guide and Illustrated History' by Larry Maier and Joseph Stahl

Believe any such used identity discs in the CW were often worn around their necks.

If that's a sealed hole shown above the '27' on this 1833 cent piece (suggesting it was worn around the neck), then thought there's a definite possibility it was used as a Union soldier's identity disc during the CW period.

(Alternatively, that engraved 1833 coin may have had no CW connection, but was merely one in a collection of historic or interesting-looking coins and tokens acquired and then stored in the box over the course of working in those salvage/junk yards. It's not mentioned whether the box exclusively contained only CW-related coins/tokens, apart from the subject coin).

 

[scooter748driver]

Welcome from the Fort Sumter and the Fredericksburg forums.

I'm not sure, but an interesting piece nonetheless

 

[Joe Whitworth]

My guess is shop made tag for a valve or piece of equipment. The letters are well stamped indicating access to good tools. I'm sure the large penny was a cheaper and on hand replacement for a premade blank tag. YMMV

 

[VaFredneck]

Thinking like Joe, reminds me of a farm tag. Not a very good ID on a Soldier.

 

[Bugattimiller]

As id discs were meant to accurately identify a soldier, often in the event of death I would think it unlikely to be such an item. Too cryptic I would think. Still nice item and not a modern fake of any description. Just my thoughts, could be way off.