I have been working on a 19th-century cemetery in Los Angeles. We found 
this item with one of the burials. It was recovered during dry screening, so I 
don't know it's location within the grave. It is unlike anything else we found. It 
does not resemble any other coffin hardware and, in fact, this burial was in a 
plain hex coffin without handles or other coffin hardware. The item appears to 
be made of a soft metal and has purple corrosion on it (visible in the photos). 
There is a little "nubbin" in the center which looks like it was used to attach 
this item to something. I'm stumped. Does anyone know what this is?

Photos can be viewed at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10925368@N07/

(There is another item made of the same metal, but it is nearly completely 
covered in sediment/rock/corrosion. The excavator guessed that it was a 
bullet. I can't discern the original shape, however.)

I would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions/ideas. Thanks!