It certainly is very old ... but what is it ?

[fernando]

Well David,
My english was learnt in the streets; it's only mediocre because i keep checking it in the dictionary ... or in the web .
It's amazing how different eyes can see distinct things
I don't think that's a nail mark at all; there's no countermark on the other side. What i see there is some kind of punch, like a maker's mark or symbol of some kind. That´s precisely the first sympthom that made me think this thing is European .
... Plus the the iron structure, namely the socket; wouldn't African stuff be thinner ?
Fernando