🥇 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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[jeff of pa]

cool find !

I found Several Caleb Fosters through out he U.S. including one who was a Slave.
but only one in pa.
Unfortunately, I Can't Translate

and no proof it is the same one.



I think I see Caleb Foster melder which would be "Caleb Foster Reports" .
and last 3 of the Paragraph "apparently not remembered"

But I can't for the Life of Me pick out enough words with all the Squiggly Letters .
It hurts my Brain.
The Scranton Wochenblatt,(week sheet ) edited and published by Friederich Wagner, was a weekly German language newspaper, published in Scranton, Pennsylvania, from January 1865 through August 1918. ... Wagner learned the printing trade from Robert Baur of Wilkes-Barre ..

Scranton Wochenblatt. volume (Scranton, Pa.), 05 May 1887.



Scranton Wochenblatt. volume (Scranton, Pa.) 1865-1918, May 05, 1887, Page 2, Image 2 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress

 

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[Turbo21]

Sell it?
Have you considered giving it to a living relation?
Don.....

I haven't decided yet. Might sell or might keep it. Leaning towards keeping it.

I know we have discussions all the time about returning class-rings that are worth about $100. But it is way hard to consider giving away a piece that could bring from $1500-$2000

And I believe that most people would care less about a tag from their great great possibly great grandfather. It takes a special person (like us) to appreciate what the dog tag represents and the history behind it

 

[tlh2865]

Wow that thing is beautiful!! keep the pictures updating as you get it cleaned. Congratulations!!

 

[jeff of pa]

I haven't decided yet. Might sell or might keep it. Leaning towards keeping it.

I know we have discussions all the time about returning class-rings that are worth about $100. But it is way hard to consider giving away a piece that could bring from $1500-$2000

And I believe that most people would care less about a tag from their great great possibly great grandfather. It takes a special person (like us) to appreciate what the dog tag represents and the history behind it

I agree,in most cases if they don't see dollars , odds are they would throw it in a drawer

 

[KirkS]

Got my vote for banner!

That is really a great find. I agree with the above; family member would either sell it or stick it in a drawer. Keep it or sell it, but it's yours to do with as you'd like.

 

[ironhorse]

That's one of those " just wow" kind of find!
It's pretty amazing how some finds have all the info right on them like yours, big congratulations to you!

 

[Bay Beagle]

That is sweeter than "sweet" .... nothing makes me more happy, than to find something - than be able to trace it back to it's original owner ..... totally a "BINGO" ~ congratulations on a superior find; both digging and research!!!

 

[Turbo21]

I agree,in most cases if they don't see dollars , odds are they would throw it in a drawer

And it's hard when I see the dollars to make me part with it


One that was sold at heritage auctions

 

[danjsargent]

Oh man banner for sure! Beautiful find congrats! Love that you can read the name and the front details are stunning. Such an amazing piece of history congrats congrats!!!!

 

[TRanegar36]

If I were in your shoes - I'd sell and upgrade equipment...

 

[decoy218]

Banner vote submitted. Nice find and save.

 

[Turbo21]

If I were in your shoes - I'd sell and upgrade equipment...

I upgraded from the eurotek pro to the Garett at pro a few months ago. Happy with my equipment for right now

 

[Scrappy]

Excellent piece of history. Personally I think threads get ruined by too much emphasis on monetary value, but that's just my two cents.

I really can't think of a better civil war find. Personalized pieces are always more special to me. Stellar find man - and I'm going to place a banner vote.

 

[highnam]

Crown this man! If that ain't banner I'll eat my shorts

 

[A2coins]

That's a treasure !!! That's what its all about

 

[Turbo21]

Thanks everyone for the banner votes. I have always wanted to head to Virginia to find some civil war relics and never though I would find one so cool so close to home

 

[Turbo21]

Excellent piece of history. Personally I think threads get ruined by too much emphasis on monetary value, but that's just my two cents.

I really can't think of a better civil war find. Personalized pieces are always more special to me. Stellar find man - and I'm going to place a banner vote.

I understand what you mean. But I only posted a screenshot of what it would sell for at auction. We have had a lot more posts talking about the history behind it then the value.

 

[Carolina Tom]

Congrats on finding an exceptional piece of treasure. That is an awesome relic. I have seen a couple on here over the years. You see more Charleston slave tags than you do those dog tags.

Wow.

 

[texjim]

That has to be one of the best finds i have seen on this forum. Congrats..

 

[relic nut]

That's a killer find for sure! One of a kind! Personal finds from the CW are hard to beat. If it could only talk. Congratulations!!

HH, RN