Find from a main street reconstruction project.

[bk]

This pin was found under a sidewalk after about 12" of sand had been scraped, exposing the original soil.
The pin was a souvenir from the 30th encampment of the Grand Army Of the Republic held September 1st to the 4th 1896 in St. Paul Minnesota. The pin was about 1 inch deep about half way between the two water shut off valves in the pic.
Although the site looks good, old coin finds have been few and far between.
The construction workers don't have a problem with us detecting even while they are working as long as we have on orange vests and stay out of their way.

 

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[{Sentinel}]

NOW that is a great find! Grand Army of the Republic Encampment medal WOW!!

 

[panzermeyer]

Homerun! Thats a super find.Keep it comin'..God Bless ans Happy Hunting...Panz

 

[stoney56]

Nice going BK. Congrats. I'd take that over most any coin.

 

[randall61]

sweet find,I love un common finds

 

[Baggins]

Great find! I think it is great that they allowed you to detect even while they were working..
Baggins

 

[EDDE]

BURGER KING ROCKS 8) 8)

 

[desertfox]

WTG BK. Nice work crew you got there letting you hunt while they work.
Most of the time all you get is stay away while we're working. Or a flat out NO! Enjoy the hunt while you can....

Desertfox

 

[artemis moon]

That's an awesome find!! Congratulations and keep digging that site!!

 

[cottonjim]

Can't quite tell but that almost looks like Bird Island, i know they are tearing up that main street along 212, makes going to the Cities a pain. Nice find BTW. HH
Jim

 

[Don In South Jersey]

NICE FIND, IT SURE BEATS DIGGING PULL TABS...

 

[piggman1]

Absolutly excellent! That is one nice find!

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Excellent !!
I found this little blurb .....

In September 1896, a Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) encampment brought 100,000 visitors to Saint Paul. Some of these were shady characters who concerned Mayor Frank B. Doran. Newly appointed Chief Michael N. Goss marshaled his force, effectively planning ahead to meet all possible emergencies. The substations were drawn upon for half of their regular patrolmen, who were put on beats in the Central District. Those substation patrolmen were replaced by 100 “specials.” The Detective Division was strongly reinforced. The most serious criminal event that occurred during the encampment was a holdup in Smith Park. Both suspects were captured quickly.

The following is a letter written to Chief Goss from Mayor Doran after the G.A.R. encampment.

“The conduct of the St. Paul police force has been the topic of general commendation by our visitors and a source of great pride to our own people. As Chief, ex-officio, of the city, the praises that have been bestowed upon your courtesy, your vigilance and your efficiency by great numbers of people from home and abroad have been most gratifying. You have taken part in the greatest gathering of strangers ever witnessed in our northwestern country and have aided largely in making it a remarkable success. Your accommodating department has won you the enviable reputation of being in all respects the equal, if not the superior, of any department that has had to do with the order and comfort of our veterans during the past fifteen years, and, better than all, you have secured the admiration of our own people