🥇 BANNER Civil war dog tag. Are you kidding me?!!!!!!

[Turbo21]

I decided to go digging at lunch time today and went to one of our local parks that was opened in 1914. We have pulled many silver coins and cool relics from this park but never in a million years did I think I would find a civil war dog tag!!!!

I had a good signal and was thinking half dollar

Duh the hole and out pops a big disc. I was thinking large cent as soon as



Being the curious person I am I started cleaning it in the field. Was confused when I see 1861 and a shield. I didn't know what it was so immediately started looking online



I first thought it was a civil war token but noticed some writing on the back. I then found it was a civil war dog tag. How the heck did that end up in this park!!!!

I am still in the cleaning stage but it's coming along nicely. It's in really good shape and just some peroxide made a lot of the original brass color show up

I still have ore cleaning to do but it just amazes me the history behind this.

Here is a pic of how it's coming along


The back still need some cleaning but the writing is all legible

The back says
Caleb r foster
COB
13 reg
Vol




I suck at research so a big thanks to kiros32

He found that Caleb r foster was in the 102 regiment Pennsylvania infantry company b
He was wounded at wilderness va
He mustered out with his company on June 28 1865
He died at 78 from pneumonia and he is buried in chartiers cemetary which is about 10 miles from here

I have started looking at values and looks like at auction it could go from $1750 to $2200. Wow

I am still shaking and this is definitely my best find ever its gonna be hard to top this one!!!

 

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[Scrappy]

Normally, I'm a leave alone guy. However, as I assume he's not selling it, I think the improvement was worth it. Looks better & not over polished to me.

Agreed. Leaving things alone or minimally cleaned is often the way I like to go. I was silently cringing when I read that its soaking in peroxide, but the "after" pics look good and not excessive.

Well done! Congrats on banner

 

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[bill_wabo]

The best finds here are put on a banner at the top of the forum page. Click on them, you'll see stunning finds submitted by the members. There are rules for banner votes and I suggest you read them, as you might guess, some conditions are required.
Wish you one gusnuts!

 

[Turbo21]

Thanks everyone for the banner votes. I have made a lot of good finds over the last few years but never one I though of having a chance of making it up top. Cool to finally make it up there.

 

[Davers]

First I Congratulate you on a Special 'Unexpected ' Find.
Every CW Hunter Pray's they can find a ID Disc.

As for Cleaning , everybody has an opinion .
&
In reality $1500-$2000 is not that much money, IMO It would be easy come easy go.

I'd Keep it for all my Life & Now in a way Mr Foster is part of your family History .

I'd love to have such a piece & only sell it in a Emergency .
My Opinion.

 

[CRUSADER]

First I Congratulate you on a Special 'Unexpected ' Find.
Every CW Hunter Pray's they can find a ID Disc.

As for Cleaning , everybody has an opinion .
&
In reality $1500-$2000 is not that much money, IMO It would be easy come easy go.

I'd Keep it for all my Life & Now in a way Mr Foster is part of your family History .

I'd love to have such a piece & only sell it in a Emergency .
My Opinion.

Not sure what the Emergency would be, as it's easy to carry if made homeless...

 

[Davers]

Not sure what the Emergency would be, as it's easy to carry if made homeless...

You Know , to save a family members life, ( if you like them that much) , or pay ransom to the Cartel for my Cat.

If I were homeless I would likely be Drunk & loose the Tag after a short time. ?? Or trade it for a place to live for a month or so.
Hmmmmmm?
IJDK

 

[Mifarmer]

Part of me would want to track down a family member, I would have a heart attack if someone called me and told me they found great grandads civil war tag, but on the other hand I would have a hard time not seeing it in my display case too.
Great job!

 

[paulb104]

What we've done in this situation is valuate the item, track down the family and tell them who we are and what we've got. We'd be honest and offer it to them at a discount before selling it at auction or whatever. We call that "sending it home" and we've had the pleasure of doing this a number of times.

 

[deepdiggingnc]

Man is that awesome!! Congrats!!

 

[pepperj]

Congrats on great piece of history, a once in a lifetime sort of find.
It's hard sometimes when one of these $$$ finds pops up, the temptation of selling it is great, and the thoughts of what it will pay for.
Years down the road when the topic comes up of what you have found there's a big difference in "I have & I had" Take it from one that has had lots of I Hads in life, and I can't recall one single item that the $$$ bought, and all will be just a fading memory someday.

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

Super Find!!!
WoW!
No doubt about it, Banner Find, for SURE!
Great research, too...!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[RobRieman]

Banner city. That is one awesome piece of history.

 

[Patriot Relics]

Across the top where it should be, congrats on your first banner

 

[SusanMN]

Awesome find. If you have any interest in getting it back to his descendants, I may be able to locate them on Ancestry.

 

[cw0909]

im late, def a banner find, congrats
info
Civil War ?Dog Tags?: Sutlers Solve the ID Dilemma - Ephemera Society of America Ephemera Society of America Civil War ?Dog Tags?: Sutlers Solve the ID Dilemma - Ephemera Society of America |

 

[DFW_THer]

congratulations!

 

[CRUSADER]

Part of me would want to track down a family member, I would have a heart attack if someone called me and told me they found great grandads civil war tag, but on the other hand I would have a hard time not seeing it in my display case too.
Great job!

Personally I would try & track a direct descendant. I might even return it. However, there is an option C. Track them down, share the findspot with them, & the pictures. The journey could take you anywhere, but at the least it will probably add a back story to the find.

 

[Turbo21]

im late, def a banner find, congrats
info
Civil War ?Dog Tags?: Sutlers Solve the ID Dilemma - Ephemera Society of America Ephemera Society of America Civil War ?Dog Tags?: Sutlers Solve the ID Dilemma - Ephemera Society of America |

Very cool article on dog tags

 

[Rustic]

What an extraordinary find! Such history, and so touching too. This hobby has a way of burning history right into the soul. Beautiful, and congratulations!

 

[Valley Ranger]

Once in a lifetime find. Epic save. Congratulations.