Ray Hillman's Comments: Drifting pick for underground square-set timber stope mining; (chamber above the mine tunnel.) Used to break down the ore which willthen roll down to the bin. Handle is a wood shank. Appears that the head came lose, and then was nailed in. Must have been used in a small operation as there is no steel wedge to hold the head on. Maker's mark "TNS" cin in with a metal die. The object is from the San Francisco Mint Museum which was closed in 1994. Their original catalog cards indicates it was a U.S. Mint purchase in 1973, and their catalog number was 1810-41-10. Card reads: Full sized double headed iron pick with a wooden handle. (D. Cooper, 3/98) "NV SNO LINS NY" punched into blade.