Light Artillary Plate and George Washington Inaugural Button
Long story short.. I got permission to hunt a home site (the surrounding 100 acres are in my future). After 2 hours of digging modern stuff I encountered one little spot next to the 18?? house and within feet of appears to be an old road bed. The location - Approx. one mile East of New Midway MD (Between Frederick, MD and Gettysburg, PA) I dug this light artillary belt plate and George Washington Inaugural Eagle button. Can't express enough how excited I am to finally be back in the Relic Finding Groove.....
I added a couple additional photos - the first is the plate just after it was found - the other is a historical marker approxiimately 1/2 mile from where the plate and button were found. I spent the weekend hunting the house site. Nothing spectacular besides the plate and button though cool enough to make a seperate thread. I'll try to post that tomorrow. WAIST-BELT PLATE, LIGHT ARTILLERY(?), 1814-1821
The design of this rectangular plate, struck in rather heavy brass, is the same as that offered as the (p. 34) 1814-pattern cap plate for the light artillery, although it is the product of a different and somewhat more crudely sunk die. The piece is dominated by an eagle with wings upraised, a shield on its breast, three arrows in its right talon, and an olive branch in its left talon. Crossed cannon are in the foreground, and there is a pile of six cannon balls in the lower right corner. The whole is superimposed on a trophy of colors and bayoneted muskets. Above is a 5-pointed "star of stars" made up of 20 5-pointed stars.
Last edited by *Dig-Dug*; Oct 21, 2012 at 06:33 PM.
Reason: added photos
Two Banner finds at once! Those are fantastic digs! The plate could be easily restored by a professional relic restorer. That era of military plate is on my list. I've hit some prewar plates, but nothing that early yet. Congratulations!
18th c. Engraved Silver Friendship Pendant
1722 Colonies Francoises French 9 Deniers Copper
"Le Bon Temps" Pocketwatch Winder
1774 Two Reales
1797 One Real
1831 Mexican Republic One Real
Four dateless Half Reales
1740, 1799, 1807, and 1811 Half Reales
1840-O Seated Half Dollar with MS details
1847-O Seated Quarter with AU-50 details
1838 Seated Dime
1840-O and 1853-O Seated Half Dimes
1824 Matron Head LC
Dateless Matron Head LC
Regiment of Artillery button (1811-1813)
1812 era Artillery button
One piece Eagle General Militia button(GI56)
1700s Navy Cuff Button
pre-CW Navy Cuff Button
GS Eagle Button
.31 cal. Brass Bullet Mold
1873, 186?, and 18?? Shield Nickels
1884 and 1905 V Nickels
1908-D Barber Dime
Trade Beads, Musketballs, Minieballs, etc.
Any relics, coins, or other items appearing in my finds signatures were found on PRIVATE PROPERTY with total consent and permission from the owners of said property.
Although I primarily hunt for coins and jewelry, I'm at aw with your phenomenal two in one day finds. That belt plate is in excellent condition for being two hundred years old. Then we have the Washington inaugural eagle button that is absolutely outstanding. I'm no expert when it comes to relics from the past, but I do see "Banner" on this one. Congratulations.
Super nice finds although it sort of turns my stomach that you found them near my home and I have probably driven past the house in the past week. Seriously, congratulations.
That is incredible! Those two finds are amazing, congrats!
Any relics, coins, or other items appearing in my finds signatures were found on PRIVATE PROPERTY with total consent and permission from the owners of said property.
That's an amazing relic hunting day in anyone's book - congratulations! I vote banner.
"A land without ruins is a land without memories -- a land without memories is a land without history." ~ Rev.Abram Joseph Ryan, Poet Laureate of the Confederacy
Proud great-great grandson of three Confederate soldiers: John Meredith Crutchfield who served with the 60th Virginia, Maurice Coffey, & John McGann who both served with the 51st Virginia. Grandpa Crutchfield and Grandpa Coffey were both wounded and both served time in Yankee prisons.
Minelab Explorer and Excalibur; Tesoro Tejon; Fisher 1265-X; Garrett Master Hunter; White's Coinmaster; In closet: Bounty Hunter and Relco
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Absolutely rare and special...both of them. Congratulations. First, the inauguaral button is a high item on my list and for many others- a rare piece of colonial America. As for the militia plate--one of the most attractive and sought after, despite its limited and underestimated value. Both items are repairable. I have dug an 1850's eagle buckle, possibly a sword belt plate. The trouble with my plate is the fact that it was damaged excessively in 1856 when the fort supply house caught on fire. I found it along with melted pieces of brass (once buttons). My plate is beyond restoration (my own opinion). However, both of your items are very restorable. Contact McDaniels. He can bring life into them.
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Originally Posted by Bell
Mike Dawg
