An unusual item dating back more than a century has been uncovered by the Coast Guard, and now it's over to you to tell us what it is.

The Coast Guard's Peter Wright said the item, which is approximately 10 centimetres in length was originally delivered to Cedar Bay in the north.

"That would have come via a whaler over the Pacific to Cedar Bay at some stage...that's history."

The engraving points to a Hercules Sanchez as a one-time owner of the item, and dates back to 1897.

"It has got a round bottom so it can't stand up," Peter hinted.

If you have any ideas of what the item may have been used for let us know below.