Any idea what this tag is?

[mainer]

Hey all got this tag today, atleast thats what I am calling it. Any ideas on what it went too? It has a 1 then underneath a 183. Its one and a half inches square. Thanks for looking. Heres a close up.

 

[JIMMY555]

probably a slave tag

 

[Iron Patch]

One that needs cleaning for possible identification!

 

[mainer]

I have been giving it the peroxide treatment, anything else I can do to it Patch. Don't want to ruin it.

 

[mainer]

I didnt figure it was spooky. Would like to figure out just what it was.

 

[mainer]

I think its hand made. The site was a mile into the woods so I think I can rule out utility pole marker, though you can never be sure. I cant figure it out. Hopfully someone can. The site dated from the late 1700's to the mid 1800's.

 

[mainer]

Posted a cleaned up close up. Looks like 1' then 183 at the bottom. Nothing more.

 

[mainer]

You may be on to somthing there Spooky. It sure could be a P. It does look different then the 1 on the bottom. So P 183.

 

[Iron Patch]

You may be on to somthing there Spooky. It sure could be a P. It does look different then the 1 on the bottom. So P 183.

Slight chance it's a raised dot/circle and implies #1. More a European thing and French is what I'm familar with. Not sure if #1 was ever written that way in North America.

 

[Lucas]

Since the 8 is split down the middle I would say the top one is a P

A trap tag would need a hole too.

Some fur trade trade tokens were hand made.

I would guess 19th c.

 

[mainer]

It may notbe a tag for anything, with no hole I guess its hard to say it is infact a tag. Obviosly if it were attached as a tag it would have had to of been glued I assume. So maybe I need to start thinking of another possability?

 

[Mackaydon]

Maybe TP 183; as in telephone pole #183.

 

[mainer]

As I said earlier it was a mile away from any new road or house. So I had in my mind ruled out telephone pole marker, though I know it could be, since things end up in strange spots all the time. Seems asthough it may be a little older then that. But these are all just guesses from me aswell.

 

[Mackaydon]

Mainer:
OK; maybe telegraph, not telephone, pole.
Don.......

 

[kuger]

Boy,I dont know,I would rule out tag as well,because as already noted there is no means of attachment

 

[MSRelic]

with no hole I guess its hard to say it is infact a tag.

Looks thin enough to drive a nail straight through it. That may be how they attached them to pole or whatever. If so, this one is an unused drop.

 

[bradyboy]

interesting that it has no hole in it
Brady

 

[underdogger]

I live near Eriecanal and have found similar round pieces with a # on them or if your neer a rail road it might be a token they gave to a traveler with luggage arround 1835-1850 like a claim check that would be my guess if your near either .