🥇 BANNER Stunning Early Militia Artillery Belt Plate leaves me stunned! WOW!

Scrappy

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Mar 6, 2014
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When you text a find to some of your best buddies and they all curse at you, that's when you know you have something really killer.

Well today was that day for me, and I'm so pleased with this find despite a new fan club being started called "FU Steve" (whatever that means) lol.

I've been having some luck at a site I'd all but written off. You see I've been staying away from the street - perhaps for reclusive reasons, or perhaps because I don't want other detectorists to spot me. Either way, lately, I've been chancing it and scoring lots of large cents and early buttons. Today I was hammering away and got a slamming hit on the Deus. The kind that make the Deus overload and sound like it's in stereo. I dig it despite being sure it was junk...

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1488332996.795949.jpg

I say a few expletives after figuring out what it was.

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1488333031.016703.jpg

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1488333042.838859.jpg

After some good advice from a few experts, I clean it with nothing but a toothpick and a chip brush.

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1488333138.528331.jpg
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1488333151.668432.jpg
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1488333161.975096.jpg
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1488333176.633704.jpg

Finished off with some renaissance wax and viola!

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1488333208.848936.jpg

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1488333220.977871.jpg

A few friends with some incredible knowledge have confirmed it's a Ca. 1820 Militia Artillerist Belt Plate.

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1488333354.587879.jpg

Plate #4 in Crouch.



It was a true blessing to dig this plate, especially in the condition it's in. Enjoy and good hunts everyone.

Steve
 

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Scrappy

Scrappy

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Just catching up on everything...what you've done over the winter months is astonishing. And your work in total now is just out of this world. Really happy for you!

Hey man thanks for the kind words. It's been a good stretch of luck, and I believe that's mostly what it is - luck. Just rare items, at the right place, at the right time.

Cheers bud
 

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Scrappy

Scrappy

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Hey. When i was skimming through my copy of Sydney C. Kerksis book, "Plates and Buckles of the American Military 1795-1874", looking for Stefs plate last night, i thought i remembered seeing your plate in the book.
Curiousity got the best of me this evening, so i though i would go back and look at it again.
The pic with the belt says, "Three early militia plates on their original belts". So the belt pictured should be what yours would have looked like.
Note the date Sydney gives this plate. I think your plate could be earlier than 1820's, and could possibly have been used in the War of 1812.
I love the design on your plate, and if its War of 1812 era, that makes it even better.
I dont know much about Kerksis, but i will say the book is 500+ pages full of info and illustrations, put together very well, and copyrighted in 1974.

So... Do you like apples?

Thanks for the information. There's a lot of debate about the exact age of items from this era. I know some earlier sources from the 70's have been corrected after more info and finds appeared, but have no idea if that applies to this plate. I appreciate the research and those pictures are excellent!
 

Ahab8

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Oct 15, 2013
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Congrats buddy. Happy to see that killer military relic up top
 

IndianaBonesMD

Full Member
Mar 12, 2017
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Wow !!! That is an unbelievable find.
Very nice. Great shape to.
 

Beezly

Sr. Member
Mar 20, 2017
285
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Finger Lakes, NY
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That is in amazing condition, congratulations :thumbsup:
 

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Scrappy

Scrappy

Gold Member
Mar 6, 2014
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Thanks all for the replies. Since finding the Plate, I've looked at it almost daily. It's from and centre in my display.
 

DigIron2

Silver Member
Jan 22, 2014
4,031
2,967
Virginia
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Lucky:unhappysmiley: Just joking man. What a piece dude! And its condition too. Congrats.
 

A2coins

Gold Member
Dec 20, 2015
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Congrats . Treasurer is great!!!!
 

Agent Green

Hero Member
Jul 19, 2013
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HUGE CONGRATS!! :occasion14: WTG... you just never know sometime.. WoW
 

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