Found this in an old house. There’s a ton of them. Any idea what they could be? Why would they store them in the basement”

A Box Full of Mystery: Why Were These Metal Discs Stored in the Basement of an Old House?

At first glance, the discovery looks like something straight out of a historical novel or a hidden-treasure story. In the dim light of an old basement, tucked away among dusty tools and rusted equipment, sits a heavy wooden box—its lid creaking open to reveal dozens, maybe hundreds, of flat, silvery metal discs. They’re uniform in shape, slightly rough around the edges, and clearly not modern coins. The immediate question practically asks itself: What are these, and why were there so many of them stored down here?

As strange as the find may seem, discoveries like this are more common in older homes than people realize—especially houses built in the late 19th or early 20th century.

First Impressions: Coins, Tokens, or Something Else?
Many people’s first instinct is to think they’ve stumbled upon old coins or some kind of forgotten currency. But a closer look tells a different story. These discs are unmarked, irregular, and lack the detailed stamping you’d expect from coins. Some show oxidation or discoloration, suggesting they were never meant for circulation or display.

Their uniform thickness and rough finish hint that they were cast or stamped quickly—made for function, not beauty.