🥇 BANNER Colonial/Civil War site yields unusual silver object

[Jason H.]

Last Sunday I headed out to a mixed colonial and Civil War site with my buddy Ron. After five years of going to this place, we have a good feel for where the old home sites are and where the Civil War camp relics are. I like to dig both. Recently, we discovered another home site near the back end of this property, so I decided to check it out in the late afternoon. On the way there, I dug a crusty 1798 Large Cent. Once there, one of my first finds was the 1875 Seated Liberty dime. Then followed flat buttons and some Civil War relics- a knapsack triangle and a variety of bullets. Then I get a decent reading in the button range. After removing a nail, it becomes an awesome signal, reading in the mid-90s on my MXT. I get out the pinpointer and hand digger and begin to uncover something silver about 10 inches down. Taking it out of the hole, I am thrilled but curious- what is this? It's either a dog or a bear, I think. It's handmade, heavy, and it appears to be pure silver. It looks like the top to a cane, but what is that atop its head? Looking inside it, something iron went through the top. Something went through its teeth and one ear is drilled out- but not the other. Does anyone know what this was or what time period it's from?
Thanks and HH,
Jason

Update: This little work of art has been identified as a officer's sword pommel from the Revolutionary War era.

 

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[sorahc]

Could it have been on the pommel of an officer's grade sword?

 

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[SilverPirate]

Super great finds for sure!

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

I'm getting a feeling that this item is going to become more and more interesting, don't recall ever hearing of one dug.
It may end up having more significance than what is currently known.
My opinion, anyway.
That should be a banner item, period.
Carl

 

[ivan salis]

if you go to e bay and look up "antique hand made pipe tamper " you will see one with a carved wooden face on it --- your loin head would go on the end where the face is at -- the bump on top the head was to pack unburnt fresh tobacco --the stick end was used to pack the burnt ash down --the mouth held a ring so it could be hung up on the wall --by looking at the "long stick type tamper" on e bay it you will quite easily see one of the "long stick type" tampers often used in taverns and upscale homes during the later 1700's thru mid 1800's time frame -- there was also shorter pocket type tampers --from 1585 until 1881 when the first really usible cigarette rolling machne came into being --pipes ruled the smoking world --cigars had their fans (mainly with the rich up class type folks -- who could afford the idle time needed to sit and smoke a cigar )--but for the common working man / or those that just wanted a quick smoke it was a pipe that ruled. -- the the plain jane tavern style clay pipe was the "cigarette butt" of its day , and was often "issued" for free if one bought tobacco for smoking at a tavern or smoke shop -- clay pipe bowls or stems found at a site normally mean civil war and earlier time frame --post war wooden pipes were more common than the old fashioned type clay pipes then in 1881 a major shift occured once the cigarette making machine came on the scene and pipes lost out to the cigarette in smoking popularity

I would rate this as a first class find for several reasons -- 1 ITS SILVER ( THUS VALUIBLE) 2 ITS VERY VERY OLD (THUS COOL) 3 ITS A HISTORICAL ITEM OF IMPORTANCE --TOBACCO WAS A HUGE CASH CROP IN AMERICA AND VERY IMPORTANT IN EARLY AMERICAN SOCIETY .

 

[Iron Patch]

Sword | Revolutionary War Era Saber Lion Head Pommel 3 Fuller

 

[tlowery04]

Great Finds!

I was going to suggest a pipe cover, but Ivan beat me to the punch, I have a differing view of the long stem clay pipe though. It has always been my understanding that while its nice today to smoke out of a long stem pipe for the cooling effect, in the colonial era most taverns had communal pipes. Being that most people didn't practice general oral hygene, and illness was known to spread through communal contact, the pipes were made very cheaply and then left in wooden holders. Each time the pipe was used a piece of the pipe would be broken off where the previous smoker had put their lips. Just another explanation of something completely un related to you finds though =)

i hope you go over that site with a fine tooth comb

 

[Jason H.]

Wow, thanks for all the comments and the banner nods. I appreciate everyone's input! After doing a lot of image searching looking first at long stick pipe tampers and then at Revolutionary War sabers, I believe this was probably the latter. Check out the image below- a very close match, though not exact. Doing a Google image search, I found a number of lion head pommels that closely resembled my find. Thanks to Iron Patch and sorahc for the suggestion about it being a pommel, but also thanks to Ivan Salis for his research and taking the time to post. You guys are great!

 

[reednc]

Congratulations. This is an excellent find.

 

[Jason H.]

Thanks Reed!

 

[materdigger1]

Very nice sliver find Jason - HH

 

[jjhodges]

Very clearly a lion's head sword pommel. Im not sure where somebody got dog? a pipe tamper theory I can see, but there is no question what it actually is.

 

[cwhunter_1]

Not to confuse the ID of your silver lion head, but here's a site that shows a silver lion head (Revolutionary War) sword.
Revolutionary War swords and edged weapons
See image " RWe6ds on page 2
It appears to be the same as yours, including the top knot. The opening in the mouth, depending on sword design, may be where the sword guard was attached. The top knot may be where the attachment nail or screw is inserted to attach to handle. Just another possibility. Nice peice anyway you look at it.

 

[DJWEHAGE]

That is way cool!

 

[Jason H.]

Not to confuse the ID of your silver lion head, but here's a site that shows a silver lion head (Revolutionary War) sword.
Revolutionary War swords and edged weapons
See image " RWe6ds on page 2
It appears to be the same as yours, including the top knot. The opening in the mouth, depending on sword design, may be where the sword guard was attached. The top knot may be where the attachment nail or screw is inserted to attach to handle. Just another possibility. Nice peice anyway you look at it.

Thanks cwhunter, there is definitely a strong resemblance. Great site. You are correct about the top knot and the openings in the mouth are either for a safety chain or the guard, as you suggest. Thanks for the input!

 

[Ifoundit69]

awesome score ,thats something you dont see everyday !

 

[ivan salis]

with the sword pommels photos -- I too say sword pommel --although i thought long stemrd pipe tamper end piece at first -- still a colonial era ime frame find as I as i thought however. wrong use right time frame. --no ones perfect.

 

[CRUSADER]

This is a very special find in my books & a sword pommel of that beauty would be right up there in my top finds. It has THE look!

I've voted banner on this one, I have no idea of value but nor to I care, its a star find!

 

[Jason H.]

with the sword pommels photos -- I too say sword pommel --although i thought long stemrd pipe tamper end piece at first -- still a colonial era ime frame find as I as i thought however. wrong use right time frame. --no ones perfect.

Ivan, I learned a some things from your posts and I'm glad you posted. I wasn't even sure how old it was- I guessed 18th or 19th century. Thanks!

 

[Jason H.]

This is a very special find in my books & a sword pommel of that beauty would be right up there in my top finds. It has THE look!

I've voted banner on this one, I have no idea of value but nor to I care, its a star find!

Thank you sir! That is quite a compliment considering what you've found. Do you have any idea as to whether it's British or American? I am happy either way. Thanks!

 

[N.J.THer]

Awesome find...my banner vote is in. I would focus on that part of the property for a while. Good luck on future hunts.

NJ