Chinese Gold Camp question

[winslow]

Found this stuff along with the usual broken pick ax pieces rusty shovel remnants etc. near a creek that was worked in late 1800's by the Chinese. Remains of the powder flask is cool. I've been told that these lids with the Chinese characters are opium tins. I'm wondering if that is correct and what does the writing on them represent ... the product inside, the name of the manufacturer/seller or ...

 

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[HuntinDog]

You are correct they are from opium tins and that is the makers cartouche or mark.
The only one I can ID is the top row second from the left as a Fook Lung tin.
Looks like you are hunting in a good site.
keep hunting

 

[RichieRich]

Nicely done HuntinDog! Around what year?

 

[bradyboy]

nice finds, congrats

 

[HuntinDog]

Most likely mid to late 1800's

 

[winslow]

Thanks a lot Huntin dog! Fantastic!! These seem like they are really thin brass or some kind of non-ferrous composite of brass and something else. Certainly a unique metal. You have any opinion??

 

[HuntinDog]

They are made of a sheet brass with soldered seams.
The stampings are hard to ID due to the age and poor quality of the stamping.
The import of the different brands overlap areas and some brands are more common.
I find pieces of the tins almost every hunt here in the gold country.
Tells me I'm in the right relic area.