Can anyone ID these Brass Tags?

[gguidry]

Hoping someone can ID these numbered brass tags. I found them this past week at an old farm site. They were all within an 8' x 8' area. In the middle of them I found a 1940 Mercury dime and a 1943 War Nickel in the same hole so the tags may be from this time period. The larger rectangular ones measure 1 1/4" x 2 1/2". The rounded ones have both 1 and 2 holes and a couple also have different numbers on each side. I thought these may be livestock tags but the smaller rectangular tags have 2 holes and the larger ones have 4 holes so I am not sure what they could be. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bill M]

Very good finds what ever they are!

 

[upnorth]

The key will be finding out what the G.A.V. initials represent. I still have identical brass tool tags that I have not ID'd, but then I haven't put much effort into it. My hunch is the rail road with my tags. Your rectangular tags look like they were nailed into something.

 

[gguidry]

Thanks upnorth. The initials do not match with the names of the former landowner but I am still researching as maybe the land was rented out.

 

[togamac]

They look like the tags I used to see nailed to telephone poles when I was a kid.

 

[gguidry]

Thanks togamac, that is definitely a possibility. Still a question on the initials G. A. V. and why some have different numbers on each side. I am talking to some local old timers hoping one of them may have an idea on what they are.