Before I crack it open...

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Deep silver dime signal at 1860’s farm.

See some fancy and silver.



Spent some time cleaning it up, there was a lot of iron/rust along the seam, mostly at the hinge. A rare earth magnet sticks slightly to the back, enough to stick and very weak on front.

This baby is sealed closed. Tried prying with finger nails so far. Does anyone recognize this? Simply a really fancy cosmetic tin? Small pocket watch? Pill / Snuff holder? If someone can ID I won’t damage it by trying to open.
serial number from under the rust at the hinge.

 

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[Icewing]

Bummer.... What did I win?

 

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[Joe-Dirt]

Use your Lesche, but be gentle.

 

[xr7ator]

Dangit! I need to post something similar I found back in 2009. It had two barber dimes in it.

 

[Molewacker]

Nice case though!

 

[A2coins]

I know... it’s just such a nice little piece as it is. I have found dozens of old cosmetic compacts, thin brass with gold or silver plating. I often crush them when doing the old pry open and pray for a gold coin. I’m thinking it’s a pocket watch because of the serial number, no branding on the outside and rust leakage.

I was thinking watch also trust me I find many of those I thing there silver dollars lol never anything in em . Yours looks way to nice to be a compac

 

[A2coins]

Well it could have been that was fun lol

 

[jeff of pa]

I would have used a Knife & Pried it open on the spot.

but that's just me.

 

[Bruce R]

I would have used a Knife & Pried it open on the spot.

but that's just me.

Twist open yer Oreos an eat the frosting first too , huh ?

 

[sprailroad]

View attachment 1661911

...just rouge. Remnants of a mirror under the gunk. Oh well...

Ya but you/we NEEDED to know. Mabey the next one.....

 

[Dfxcobb]

my 2 cents..me personally have ruined several relics.. Its your call

 

[Brendan75]

Hi, still a very nice compact make up case you found. Congrats

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

As Icewing has already suggested, it's a make-up compact dating to the 1920s.
Yours has a lot of the silver plate remaining on the brass and it's in great displayable condition.
If you can hear something inside it's more than likely that the little mirror contained within has broken.

My suggestion would be to leave it as is, because if you do try and pry it open you'll likely end up breaking the metal rod pin inside the hinge.

Here's an example I found this past summer at an old homesite... yup, I forced it open and damaged the hinge in the process.

Dave

 

[tamrock]

I had this Garrett detector back in the early 80s.Back then I lived in an old apartment in Salida, Colorado. One night I searched over the front yard of that apartment and I got a signal close to the front of the building and dug up a tin biscuit box. When I shook it I could tell there was something was inside, but it didn't sound like coins or something metal. My mind said it's gotta be a wad of bills. It was a bit difficult to pry open and when I did get it open there was something wrapped up in some fabric. I carefully unfolded it and inside was the skeleton of a parakeet.

 

[Dfxcobb]

my luck I would break it so it's a no open for me