English: Qin Dynasty military tally in the shape of a tiger, Shaanxi History Museum
Info provided by the museum shown below:
Bronze Tiger-shaped Tally
Qin Dynasty (221-207BC)
Excavated from Shanmenkou, southern suburbs of Xi'an City
Tally was one kind of special token used by emperor to transmit his order and to confer military power upon his ministers. It is comprised of two halves, the left and the right. The right half was kept in the imperial palace, while the left half was held by commander stationed outside. Only when both parts were fitted together, completing the inscription, would an officer accept the written order as valid.