Unusual iron chain - What was it's function?

[Ripcon]

I've dug many chains in my relic hunting years, but I just came back from a hunt on an old 19th century property/house site with this one. It has an unusual apparatus with the number 24 stamped on it. The metal appears to be tin or aluminum alloy. My wife thinks it went to a strong box on the railroad and I should go back and look for lost loot. But seriously, could this be some type of security chain that went on railroad merchandise or maybe some other type of bank or security function. I just don't know. Does anyone out there know what this chain's function was? Thanks for any assistance.

 

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[Ripcon]

This was a cow chain

 

[islamoradamark]

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