Gold mining burro....Is it another toy???

[shawn&stacey]

Found this little guy about 8" deep, but I'm having trouble identifying what possible metal it is made of and what it was used for ... a mining trinket, toy, or part of a larger set maybe? It's a heavier solid metal and it gives off the exact mid-low tone that gold does... possibly it could be bronze? I'm not sure though, because I don't have a piece of bronze to test the sound under the detector. I tried to stick a magnet to it, but nothing happened, so that rules out iron. Plus, there was zero rusting. It's also not Copper, because I swept my detector over a wheatie and it made a completely different sound. The more I clean it with my jewelry cleaner, the more it takes on a uniform rose gold color (it doesn't show very well in the pic though). When I scratch the metal, the color remains uniform. The metal is also cold to the touch.

Sorry I didn't have an object to place next to it, I just used pics that were already on my computer.

The burro is about 2 1/2" X 3" inches and it has sifting screens on each side with a shovel, sleeping bag, gold panning tool (pan), and frying pan.... Apparently this little guy is a mining burro. He does have "Japan" on his left rear leg that is raised.


Hope that is enough description for everyone. Anyone have any idea what type of metal this little guy might be made of, how old he might be, and where I can identify him better?

I'm new to metal detecting and I'm not sure how the identification process goes, but I tried to be as analytical as possible. Hope the info helps and you can give me your opinion on this little guy.

Thanks everyone.

[beerdoodle]

Very nice find. Western Legend ought to be able to identify it for you. He is great at identifying assorted "asses"............Looks bronze to me. A unique find nonetheless.............

[Cfmct]

It looks like white metal to me and that would fall into the pulltab gold range.. no idea what it was used for besides decoration... I thought maybe a bank because of the hole in the bottom and even though our money isn't worth much it still won't fit in those little holes in the pans

[txrider]

Could it be pewter?

[bottlecaps]

Originally Posted by Cfmct-PI

It looks like white metal to me and that would fall into the pulltab gold range.. no idea what it was used for besides decoration... I thought maybe a bank because of the hole in the bottom and even though our money isn't worth much it still won't fit in those little holes in the pans

could it be sold at those tourist gold paning spots maybe used to hold small gold flakes/dust found?

[agbkyle]

Nice find!!!
I'm wondering if it's pewter myself. I found a little turtle once and it was pewter.

[Cfmct]

Originally Posted by bottlecaps

could it be sold at those tourist gold paning spots maybe used to hold small gold flakes/dust found?

That's a possibility

[RickO]

Neat find.. and pewter would be a great guess.... got any metallurgists around your area? RickO

[shawn&stacey]

Ahhh... pewter never even crossed my mind. That clears up a lot actually. Thanks for the help IDing it. What about age? Anyone know how old this little guy might be?

[txrider]

Looks like a souvenir that may have been sold at the Grand Canyon in the 50's.

[RickO]

Good one Janster.... RickO

[Elixir]

That is an awesome, and funny find, if i wouldve found that I would've laughed all the way home

[sectshun8]

Incense burner? The hole in the bottom may have once had a plug, for ashes.

[cnr_dogs]

Pepper shaker? Neat find no matter what it is would have loved to find it. Good Job. CNR

[Ferrous]

It is a souvenir mining Burro sold in many gift shops. Circa 1940. I remember seeing them in Las Vegas gift stores in the early 60s. This one happens to be from Yellowstone Park.

[fiat128]

The metal is called mazak and it's an alloy of zinc used in diecasting. It's cheap, flows well in the molds and is moderately hard. Commonly called "pot metal".