small metal object found in my garden

[AU Seeker]

Before I retired 16 years ago I was into gold prospecting and the guys at work used to make a joke aboy it they would spray paint rocks with gold colored paint and lay them in the plants along the sidewaik for me and then they wou;ld point it out to me!

You should of brought a big real gold nugget with you on one of those days and when they pointed out one of the painted rocks and as you're picking it up say "here's another one" and show them the real nugget, then they would be nugget hunting right along with you!! LOL

 

[releventchair]

Governors on certain steam engines had a pair of counterweights.
Not saying yours is one.
Yes these pictures don't match your piece but are examples of the device..