Old Stagecoach Tag..........................

[tkn. tony]

Went out Sunday to a spot i've been hitting lately-this is about the 5th trip there. Spent 3.5 hrs dug alot of trash and 3 or 4 memorial pennies That was it nothing -oh well can't find good stuff every time out. On monday I looked thru my trash from this hunt. I always look thru my trash--I've found several cool things -that when I dug them up looked like trash! Looking thru my trash pile-- I picked up a piece of iron I dug----turned it over and stuck to the backside was a tag ---hmmmmmm soaked it for several hours----still stuck---took a razor blade and tapped on it-to free the tag..all of a sudden it pops off----it was already damaged missing a chunk----- -it's in pretty rough shape-appears to say---Thomas stage line--found in CA.--any one ever hear of this stage line ???? Tony AZ

 

[tkn. tony]

With help from True West Historical Site--I obtained some info on this tag....
Info I found was-- that two well known Stage men -A.O.Thomas & Warren Hall- operated a Stage Line between San Francisco and Gilroy CA -but were put out of business by completion of the railroad along their Stagecoach route. In April 1869 these two men set out with four coaches and 130 horses for Elko Nevada with hopes of establishing a Stage line between Elko and White Pine. Shortly after their arrival a rate war broke out between rival stage companies, which caused many to leave or sell out. In April of 1869 A.O. Thomas sold out his entire staging outfit to Len Whines another Stage operator. By mid April rates had returned to the normal fee of twenty five dollars for the route from Hamilton to Elko Nevada....Tony AZ

 

[Goldstrike]

Very interesting find! It's also great that you were able to find the historical background to the 'tag'.....Now you just need the strong box filled with gold coins that it was attached to!!
P.s. Can you tell us where you found it? i.e. an old stagecoach stop etc;?

 

[klever]

Nice TKN, a lot of the real older places that I hunt usually just hold trash, but it always seems that one cool item will come out if we have patience. Congrats

 

[Scenario84]

That's awesome! I've come to love the old stuff that tells a story! Coins don't do that. (Not that I snub my nose at some old silver!) but to really be able to know the who what when and where is more fun to me!