I know it's a long shot, but might somebody know what this is?

[Digger_O'Dell]

How it the world would something like this make it to the fields of Central Virginia!!

Thank you, Digger!

Well, the most simple explanation would be that it was brought over by a European settler and coin collector who later lost it somehow. But for some reason that also doesn't sit well with me. If I knew what area of Virginia I may be able to track down some exploration routes and dates that would explain the presence of Europeans in the area around that time. The Spanish were huge explorers and conquerors that could have simply brought coins like that here during the early 1500s. The explorer either could have used it in trade with the natives in the area, or been lost at the site where the explorer(s) died, or many other possible reasons for it to be there.

Honestly, there were lots of stories of Indians killing the first explorers, taking things they found useful such as knives, fabrics, food, etc. But they left behind things they considered useless-coins and such being an example.