Had to flip over a poo-pattie to get it. But what is it?

[CoilToTheSoil]

A tag of some sort. Can't find any info on any of the markings. Any ideas? View attachment 1565563

 

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[Digalotajunk]

Need a better close up of the markings above and below the number.

 

[Obsessive]

Cattle tag?

 

[Digalotajunk]

Cattle tag?

that's wjat i thought at first...but, most cattle tags aren't that ornate. Most look like this one.

 

[lairmo]

Pretty much all I can make out is 168.
On a side note, way back in a CW camp I was hunting, my cousin, trying to pull one over on me, stuck a penny under a pretty fresh cow pile. He said come check this out and wanted me to swing my coil over it. I did and asked him if he was going to move it to dig it and he said no. I swept the pile to the side and re-swung...then dug...and out came a very tiny 1850s/60s Silver ring with a Ruby set into it. He claimed it and told me what he did. I kept the ring...lol HH!!!
edit: can you repost your second pic? I can't open it.

 

[CoilToTheSoil]

Here's a closeup

 

[lairmo]

Possibly a railroad baggage tag? Antique Railroad Baggage Tag Values | Antique Railroad Memorabilia IDK

 

[Digalotajunk]

Sure looks like an ornate cattle tag! LOL. Those initials don't come up in a search. May be from a short lived cattle company. Sorry i wasn't more help on this one. Nice find!!

 

[lairmo]

Where are you located? I found an M.B. CO. in Wisconsin est. 1907...?

 

[CoilToTheSoil]

Where are you located? I found an M.B. CO. in Wisconsin est. 1907...?

Central VA

 

[lairmo]

It's now a big equipment co. probably not, but: History ? M-B Companies, Inc.
Maybe the "W" is Wisconsin?

 

[No gold in NY]

Could it be a company watch fob?

 

[Possum]

Could be a tag for a company saddle or other tack... "D"

 

[zombieraccoon]

could be a tool check tag, employee ID tag... lots of things that tags were used for in the early 20th century. try firing off an email to the company and see if they can tell you

 

[diggingthe1]

It might also be from a livery stable. I have found a couple slightly similar and traced them to old livery’s. Nice find under the poo!!

 

[Kasper1212]

Are there any mines around? Minors were issued tags, so that they would return them when they came out of the mines, and they could just make sure their tag was checked back in to make sure the minors were all accounted for at the end of the day....just an idea

 

[Gare]

Possibly a Mine company's tool or work tag.

 

[Gare]

Possibly a Mine company's tool or work tag.

 

[against the wind]

I was thinking railroad baggage tag.

 

[TerryC]

My bet is on NO GOLD IN NY's post. A key fob. Leather strip goes in slit and then to key ring. ╦╦Ç