"AR" monogram "New York" "2391" medallion? holed...copper/nickel?

Sovereignelite · Jan 8, 2013

"AR" monogram "New York" "2391" medallion? holed...copper/nickel?

I found this back in 1993 in the yard of a house from around the late 19th century. Is it a key fob from a hotel? Baggage tag? Railroad tag of some sort? :BangHead:

It's the size of a half dollar and there is nothing on the reverse. Looks like maybe nickel to me as I have found shield nickels that look this exact same color...well that might not mean anything. ANY help appreciated! :notworthy:

creskol · Jan 8, 2013

I wonder if there was an AR Ferry .. looks similar to a permanent ferry token.

tennessee digger · Jan 8, 2013

Don't know what it is but I really like it. Tennessee digger

Bramblefind · Jan 8, 2013

Well here is another anyway -#2429 this time:

A R New York 2429 Copper Key Tag Local Metal Detector Find 19th Century | eBay

Sovereignelite · Jan 8, 2013

Well at least mine is in better condition!

Bramblefind said:
Well here is another anyway -#2429 this time:

A R New York 2429 Copper Key Tag Local Metal Detector Find 19th Century | eBay

Breezie · Jan 8, 2013

What puzzles me is the high number. With the fancy monogram and half dollar size, it's perfect for a hotel room key tag, BUT the number is too high. The only token I can think of right now with high numbers is a tool key check tag. So what else would have high 'permanent' numbers? Permanent in this case meaning it was used over and over. Interesting, Breezie
[h=1]http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-960665/vintage-htco-brass-tool-key-check-tag-keychain-token-antique-old.html[/h]

Sovereignelite · Jan 9, 2013

Yes that crossed my mind in the last 20 years as well too, but I thought a hotel with that many rooms would be HUGE! It's surely late or turn of the (20th) century. It looks to ornate to be part of something machinery related...I just don't know. I do find it interesting that Bramblefind found another one so quickly.

Breezie said:
What puzzles me is the high number. With the fancy monogram and half dollar size, it's perfect for a hotel room key tag, BUT the number is too high. The only token I can think of right now with high numbers is a tool key check tag. So what else would have high 'permanent' numbers? Permanent in this case meaning it was used over and over. Interesting, Breezie
[h=1]http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-960665/vintage-htco-brass-tool-key-check-tag-keychain-token-antique-old.html[/h]

Reed Lukens · Jan 9, 2013

Looks like it could be a numbered old dog registration tag, anything on the reverse?

Breezie · Jan 9, 2013

Sovereignelite said:
Yes that crossed my mind in the last 20 years as well too, but I thought a hotel with that many rooms would be HUGE! It's surely late or turn of the (20th) century. It looks to ornate to be part of something machinery related...I just don't know. I do find it interesting that Bramblefind found another one so quickly.

As far as 'looking too ornate' for machinery, just about everything during the Victorian era was ornate and highly decorated. Even saloons had do-dads & curly cues painted on their signs, and often it was highlighted in gold colored paint. Queen Victoria basically looked like a modern day 'drag queen,' (meaning no disrespect to the ole gal :laughing7:

). She was ELABORATE; therefore, every decor followed suit. Victorian furniture had carved pieces with flowers, fruits, nuts, leaves, etc. If there was a place for dust to gather, it was during that period of time. Fabric was heavy velvets, brocades, silks, satins, etc., so having a 'fancy' tag would not surprise me for that era.

Also, I'm not surprised Bramble found one so quickly. If there is information or a pic on the Internet, she'll find it! :thumbsup:

I'm not saying it is a tool tag, but I wouldn't rule it out because of the AR script.

Breezie

Sovereignelite · Jan 9, 2013

No,nothing on the back...looks awfully fancy/heavy duty for a dog tag. I have some from the 50's ...I suppose it's possible...I don't know why but I have a feeling it has something to do with railroads...Epiphany: I wonder if it could be from a hat!? Like a porter or some other profession?

Reed Lukens said:
Looks like it could be a numbered old dog registration tag, anything on the reverse?

Sovereignelite · Jan 9, 2013

I just think it looks more like a medallion or badge than something meant to be so utilitarian (even for Victorian times).

Breezie said:
As far as 'looking too ornate' for machinery, just about everything during the Victorian era was ornate and highly decorated. Even saloons had do-dads & curly cues painted on their signs, and often it was highlighted in gold colored paint. Queen Victoria basically looked like a modern day 'drag queen,' (meaning no disrespect to the ole gal ). She was ELABORATE; therefore, every decor followed suit. Victorian furniture had carved pieces with flowers, fruits, nuts, leaves, etc. If there was a place for dust to gather, it was during that period of time. Fabric was heavy velvets, brocades, silks, satins, etc., so having a 'fancy' tag would not surprise me for that era.

Also, I'm not surprised Bramble found one so quickly. If there is information or a pic on the Internet, she'll find it!

I'm not saying it is a tool tag, but I wouldn't rule it out because of the AR script.

Breezie

idahotokens · Jan 9, 2013

I'd pursue the thought that it is a department store charge tag. In the day before plastic, customers were issued numbered fobs that were to be shown when buying items on credit.
John in the Great 208

nhbenz · Jan 9, 2013

Idaho has a good idea there, I think. A dog registration tag would have a date, as would a vehicle registration disc (NY didn't issue plates before 1910, just a disc with your reg #). It crossed my mind that if it were a hotel room, which seems unlikely, the hotel may have been just on the 23rd and 24th floor of a building (24th included due to the other example found), using the first 2 digits as the floor, but there weren't many if any buildings that tall back then in NY, and it would indicate at least 91 rooms per floor (second two digits)... which also wouldn't match the buildings of the day.
Have you checked the edge of the piece for markings?

nhbenz · Jan 9, 2013

That's a funny looking A... But I can't see what else it would be... Just sayin'

Breezie · Jan 9, 2013

Sovereignelite said:
I just think it looks more like a medallion or badge than something meant to be so utilitarian (even for Victorian times).

Does the hole look machine made as if it were there originally or does it look added?

Benz, I think it could easily be a fancy "R" as well as it could be an "AR."

Breezie

Sovereignelite · Jan 9, 2013

Hmmm no haven't looked at the edge.

nhbenz said:
Idaho has a good idea there, I think. A dog registration tag would have a date, as would a vehicle registration disc (NY didn't issue plates before 1910, just a disc with your reg #). It crossed my mind that if it were a hotel room, which seems unlikely, the hotel may have been just on the 23rd and 24th floor of a building (24th included due to the other example found), using the first 2 digits as the floor, but there weren't many if any buildings that tall back then in NY, and it would indicate at least 91 rooms per floor (second two digits)... which also wouldn't match the buildings of the day.
Have you checked the edge of the piece for markings?

Sovereignelite · Jan 9, 2013

Hole looks fairly uniform but was probably added. Pretty sure it's A R too.

Breezie said:
Does the hole look machine made as if it were there originally or does it look added?

Benz, I think it could easily be a fancy "R" as well as it could be an "AR."

Breezie

Reed Lukens · Jan 9, 2013

Being the other numbered tags found like that one had the hole in the same place limits the choices. With no date or anything on the back dog tags are out. If the R is a railroad or even a hotel, being that they are all numbered, the only thing I can think of is it could be a baggage check tag, but more likely it's a daily subway pass, or a toll booth tag for a key chain that they used and just had too show it as they walked past the ticket counter. I'm thinking thousands of tags like this.