 Western & Eastern Treasures Magazine 10 Best Finds of 1995
#9
Searching in a hayfield which had yielded over a hundred Revolutionary War musketballs, David Zabielski knew only too well that he was reworking ground already covered by a number of relic hunters... and he'd like to personally thank them for passing up this British 33rd Regiment of Foot waist belt plate valued at $4,000! However, as impressive as the artifact's price tag may seem, its true value lies in its historical importance. Don Troiani, a leading collector specializing in Revolutionary War militaria, told W&ET, "This plate is very scarce. In fact, only one other like it is known to exist today, and it was found in Charleston, South Carolina" - hundreds of miles from the scene of David's discovery. Research indicates that the plate shown here was probably worn by one of 50 men in the 33rd Regt. who were serving with the Royal Artillery, and among the troops of Gen. Burgoyne captured at Saratoga and imprisoned in 1777.
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