alcatraz!!

[Texas37]

Quick afternoon hunt and came up with this! I guess its a keychain. Dont know why its in Tx but i will take it. It was about 6 inches down and hit hard on the 2.5 at 84 vdi. thanx for looking and HH!1

 

[padgett79]

cool find,I dont think too many people can say they have one of these....

 

[Dingo Darnell]

Here's a pic of an Alcatraz prisoner ID tag... It looks just like it... nice find!

 

[Rob (IL)]

Great piece, what a story of how it got to Texas.

 

[Low-Boy/LCPM]

that may be worth some money and it is a great find a keeper for history

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

n/t

 

[5900_XL-1]

n/t

That was my first idea.

 

[Larry (IL)]

My guess is it is the real thing whatever that is........ You might have to do some research but I didn't find anything like it in the vintage key chain field. That is a great find...........

 

[Dingo Darnell]

I found a guy selling one for $50 on the web. He says it a guards key tag.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5067/5696369198_505da7592f_z.jpg
Interestingly, I also found out that Alcatraz had walk-thru metal detectors way back in 1933.

Here's a link to the key tag....
http://www.spreadmyad.com/detroit/merchandise/collectibles/10783999-alcatraz-cell-block-b-key-tag-garden-city-50

 

[Larry (IL)]

A guards key tag makes sense and $50 seems very reasonable as a collectors item to me, there can't be that many around. A 1933 metal detector is not unreasonable, the first one was invented in 1881, Alexander Graham Bell.

 

[Texas37]

Thanx for the info everyone! Whatever it is, I think it is real so that makes it a very special find for me probably my best.

 

[Rob (IL)]

The key tag was appraised and posted in 2005-6 by Auction Wally.

I guess It wasn't sold in a gift shop.

 

[nw1886]

I suspected it to be a "tourist piece" (I see so many things like this that are at our shop.) and major kudos to you that it isn't!!!! What a cool chunk of history to have been waiting for you to find!