Picture 13 with brass circles in leather? Any ideas about what they are from? I just found one also. View attachment 1505978
Underwonder asked:
"Picture 13 with brass circles in leather? Any ideas about what they are from?"
They are copper rivets, made to hold two thick pieces of leather together (like the bread in a sandwich). Corrosion of the copper in the ground produces Copper Oxide, which is toxic enough to kill the bacteria/mold and anything else that tries to eat the leather. That is why copper/brass rivets are often dug with some of the original leather surrounding them. The same thing happens occasionally with buttons, and buckles/boxplates, except with the latter the bacteria-killing chemical is Lead Oxide.
You asked what they are from. Answer: Lots of leather objects (particularly horsegear), harnesses, saddlebags, luggage, as well as military cartridge-boxes, etc. No way to tell with those rivets... unless you dig a clue like a cartridge-box finial right among them.
Underwonder asked:
"Picture 13 with brass circles in leather? Any ideas about what they are from?"
They are copper rivets, made to hold two thick pieces of leather together (like the bread in a sandwich). Corrosion of the copper in the ground produces Copper Oxide, which is toxic enough to kill the bacteria/mold and anything else that tries to eat the leather. That is why copper/brass rivets are often dug with some of the original leather surrounding them. The same thing happens occasionally with buttons, and buckles/boxplates, except with the latter the bacteria-killing chemical is Lead Oxide.
You asked what they are from. Answer: Lots of leather objects (particularly horsegear), harnesses, saddlebags, luggage, as well as military cartridge-boxes, etc. No way to tell with those rivets... unless you dig a clue like a cartridge-box finial right among them.
Underwonder, I'm generous witth my 40+ years of dug-relics knowledge because I'm "paying it forward" (meaning, repaying old favors I received). Back in the early 1970s when I was a newbie relic-hunter, I was given a LOT of free relic-ID help from a couple of oldtimers. Would've been much easier for them to say, "Go away kid, don't bother me with any more of your endless newbie questions." By the 1980s they'd both passed away. The only way to repay what they did for me is to do the same thing for others who need the knowledge. That's why nearly all of my posts are in the What-Is-It? forum -- and whenever needed, here in the the civil war relics forum.
Dang Dave. You have been busy. Nice hunt. I love that script I.
Very nicely done. Some really nice relics.
To The CannonballGuy.....I could PM you, but the deep appreciation to you and those before you deserve public applause. Thank you for escalating the art of metal detecting from simple materialistic finds to the spirit of love, knowledge, and human connection. Kudos, and many thanks to you and those who have gone before us...
I've never found a script I, they're awesome buttons, congrats.
Nice civil war relics. The script I button was made by Issacs Campbell and son in London. Too bad the shank is damaged, but still a great button and Confederate. The bullets are Civil War era as well. Congrats