fairly recent civil war recoveries, Burnside Eagle breast plate, VA button, US Boss

[calmerthanu]

Been awhile since i posted on here, these are some fairly recent civil war relic recoveries, a few of the better finds, the breast plate i found in the middle of a field with nothing else of that period anywhere near it, bit boss recovered from a colonial house site that has turned up lots of civil war relics, and the VA button came from another colonial home site, has Mitchell & Tyler Richmond VA back mark.

 

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[diggervet]

nice finds, still waiting to find my first eagle plate!

 

[JimK]

nice finds, still waiting to find my first eagle plate!

So am I!!. My wife found one her first time relic hunting Saturday. Very nice finds
JimK

 

[danimal03]

nice finds. I dug a Burnside plate a couple years ago but the Virginia soil ate mine up. Still trying to find my first CS button.... congrats on nice digs!

 

[pepperj]

Three very nice finds, congrats.

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[dirtlooter]

very nice breast plate, congrats

 

[BuckleBoy]

Sweet stuff!

 

[JimK]

I have a question. What makes this a Burnside plate? We found one like this (with lead in the back of it). Are they all Burnside plates?

JimK

This is our plate

 

[danimal03]

I have a question. What makes this a Burnside plate? We found one like this (with lead in the back of it). Are they all Burnside plates?

JimK

This is our plate

the "Burnside" plates were named by early hunters that hunted camps of Burnside's troops. they are slightly smaller in diameter and in the eagles talon; part of the branches look like a fish hook. it is now largely believed that they were issued to Maine troops and I guess in theory a die maker could have slipped in a fish hook. but it could just also be coincidence that it looks like a fish hook. Burnside plates are scarce; especially in non-dug condition. there are many, many die varieties of eagle plates but all the rest of these are slightly larger than the Burnside. the plate you found is not a "Burnside" plate but still a nice find.

 

[JimK]

Thanks so much for the education. I had no idea. But I see it now. I got a lot to learn

JimK

 

[danimal03]

no worries. no one can know everything so we are always learning. plus we sometimes have to 'unlearn' previous information that was bad info, etc... anyway glad to help.

 

[StormSurge]

OK so now I'm curious. I don't see anything resembling a fish hook on the one I found but I can see what looks like one on the OP's, but his is not a Burnside?

 

[StormSurge]

OK so now I'm curious. I don't see anything resembling a fish hook on the one I found View attachment 1108099 but I can see what looks like one on the OP's, but his is not a Burnside?

Have No clue why this flipped upside down!

 

[calmerthanu]

here is a non dug Burnside plate for comparison

 

[danimal03]

I know this exact plate. I tried to buy it but was a few minutes behind the fellow that got it. another giveway on the Burnside plates is that the wing virtually touches the outer rim. there is a small space on the bigger plates. Also note the "open" leaves. they look like loops sort or. Leaves on other plates are solid. there is a non-dug Burnside plate for sale now for $500. the one pictured above sold for $350 which was a steal. regular non-dug eagle plates are about $200-$250. if it is maker marked then add a little more. I have seen hundreds of regular eagle plates for sale over the years but I can count on one hand how many Burnside plates I have seen for sale over the years.

 

[StormSurge]

Thanks danimal your description has helped me to understand this a lot better. The problem I'm having is that you stated that calmerthanu's plate "is not a "Burnside" plate". In his photo's his plate appears to have the Burnside plate characteristics that you describe.

 

[geologyjohn]

As previously noted. "Burnside" plates are smaller diameter than the other eagle plates. This is apparent when you place the two plate variants side-by-side. "Burnside" plates reportedly run about 59 mm diameter. The other variants typically run 63 to 66 mm.
On a side note, I dug an eagle plate in middle Tennessee last month. Yeah baby!

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

Very nice finds!!!! Congrat's!!

Iowa Dale

 

[Goldiver]

Great relics hope to see you posting more soon!

Steve