Tin or Silver Picture Compact??

[psarci]

My dad and I found this at an old mine camp in about 12" deep with his Whites detector. It looks like it once held a picture, but my dad also mentioned that it may have held a mirror and been a woman's compact. Any ideas of what it is and its age?

 

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[boomer]

Compact

Had to ask the boss on this one. She said to find out what metal its made out of. go to a local jewelry store they can tell you. (MOST IMPORTANT DONOT CLEAN IT). Next find out the dates the mining camp was in operation, this will help date the compact. She said it looks like it was stamped in a press. also use a magnifying glass on the inner lip and on the outer lip and back to see if there is a mint mark. The price of compacts can run from $20.00 up to several thousand dollars. see if a cigarette will fit in the case men used compacts to store them. Women in a mining camp would not just throw something like this away. It was a vary important item. See if you can find the history of the camp. You never can tell, maybe some misshap caused the person to lose it. The more you know of the location, the more likely that it can help with the price of this. Below is the name and phone number of the person she wants you to talk to. She will need a picture of the item, front, back and inside, mint marks if any. good luck, boomer

International Compact Collectors Club
contact: Roselyn Gerson
P.O. Box 40, Lynbrook, NY 11563
Phone: (516) 593-8746