>It is made of a heavy metal alloy that has been gilded.  It is circular,
>shaped roughly like a toy top, with a 1.0 inch diameter.  A 1/4 inch
>diameter hollow tube runs through the circular portion and appears to
>have been broken off on both ends.  The top surface of the circular
>portion is convex and has the words "RICHARD  HUDNUT     NY" in raised
>capital letters.  In less prominent lettering on the concave underside are
>the following words:  "I. M. MFG. Co."  &  "JULY  7TH  _____4".
>
 
Well, there is a pretty popular perfume maker called Richard Hudnut. I
would say you have the top to a old perfume bottle. Perfume collectors go
gonzo for these things...I think one of the store display bottles sold
recently (a full bottle) for something like $2000, so they must be
semi-rare. I'm not an appriaser or anything, but a friend of mine collects
perfume bottles and she just about clawed my eyes out when I showed her
this post.
 
Matt