Unknown tag. Found 1875 house.

[nalc472]

Found this tag. No idea what it is from. This house is across the street from where the town market was in 1889. Tag off a box? Slave tag?
Found in Indiana.

 

[MangoAve]

Seeing how some houses here which are definitely built before 1868 as they are on that map, but the assessor records listed 1900, possibly rebuilt due to fire or just innacurate records, that any structure having a date 1890 and earlier is a true date. I am fairly certain the house is truely 1875 as you state and not built on existing foundation which is older. Slavery was abolished during civil war so I am certain it is not a slave tag. Most I can see online have a town name or an elaborate print along with a date. Some actually say too what duties were, like Porter or servant.

http://www.backintimetradingpost.com/product-photos/set-of-6-slave-tags-2-1347740867.gif
http://p2.la-img.com/218/18839/6384727_1_l.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T4P7hVr-Ogc/TfjgycYLBwI/AAAAAAAAHOw/dlTekVIWITA/s1600/badges1.jpg

It can be a box fob. I can see one similar that was from ESP voodoo lounge from 1910 but it has the words coat room.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/172951473/the-esp-voodoo-lounge-brass-tag-number

 

[nalc472]

There is a church 25 ft from where I found this that was built in 1861. It could have been lost from there since it would have been the
back yard of the church from 1861 to 1875.

 

[del]

it could be any of the following ...

a tool check tag or an employee number tag at a large mill where many people worked

a livestock tag that hung in the ear of a cow or ox or a stable claim tag when you would check your horse in to stay.

a baggage check tag or hotel room key tag

what other businesses were very close to where you found it??

 

[nalc472]

Old Hotel, IOOF lodge, 2 banks, court house, and bars all within one block.