Subject items were found at a decaying homestead near Pionos Altos, nm in the mid 1990's.
The attached photo was taken today. I am currently photo documenting 52 years of collections from around the world. I am retired Army and retired Raytheon and retired post office. My jobs have carried me to nEurope, the Mid East and the Far East.
WE have collected some interesting things from all of these places. I hope to contribute more later. Today I am starting from the old west,USA.

Anyone who knows the significance of the number on the nailhead please respond. Some say its it size or weight, some say its iron content and some say it just length.

[ashurbanipal]

How big is the nail? It looks like a date nail to me, like those used by the railroads. If that's the case the number would indicate the year; 1956 in this case.

--Steve

[The Barbarian]

That's what it is. Ties, bridge timbers, poles, and the like had such nails driven in to document the year.