San Miguel style brass Buckle (ca. 1700-1750)

[PetesPockets55]

I went back to a beach side site today that has been getting cleared more and more for a condo. I wanted to see the progress and whether it might have the trees and brush out of the way. I've been watching it pretty closely, but evidently so have others.
Even though there was some nice white beach sand visible instead of the dark organic stained topsoil, there were also many areas where their digging was evident, in clusters instead of random holes. I took that to mean they were having some success getting hits in certain areas, but my expectations were low for finding anything. Definitely wasn't the early bird today starting at 2:30 and not easy in this Fl sun.
I decided to try the fringes about a foot from where they dug and after only about 3-5 min. I got a solid 80 at 4"-6". Usually around here with my AT Max at "All Metal" a 78 to 82 means aluminum cans.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a brass buckle with the tongue still attached looking back at me.
(This spot was about 75' west of where I found the small decorative brass hinge last year. Here's the link if interested:
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/shipwrecks/581248-jewelry-box-hinge-fastening-nail-still-attached.html )

Last but not least here is the online reference at Artifacts.org that I found on belt buckles and why I think this one is the San Miguel style, ".. may have served as harness strap/saddlery or small accoutrement buckles"
Bucklepage
Hope I'm doing this part correct and it doesn't need to be "embedded" somehow.

Thanks for looking and any comments because I'm still fairly new at this.

 

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[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[vpnavy]

 

[CRUSADER]

This Spectacle buckle as we call them in the UK span many hundreds of years & at first I thought it maybe earlier than your ID. But then I noticed/learnt something, yours is clearly Brass, as you say, and there are some small variations that I now know to be Spanish & not British. So thanks for the lesson, as most of our Spectacle Buckles were dying out in the 18th C.

 

[PetesPockets55]

Thanks everyone for the likes and Digger RJ, VP Navy and Crusader for the comments.

Crusader, interesting about the British styles of buckles. Do you have any other links to share on the British ones you mention?
I had no idea about an ID until I did the online search. Mine is a slightly different than the ones in the "Bucklepage" link. I had a couple of things going for me to help narrow it down. 1715 Spanish Plate going down locally was the biggest help and being directly onshore from one of them.

I thought it was a shoe buckle until I saw the info indicating it might be equestrian related.

Didn't even consider British but should have because an original Spanish salvage site ("The Winter Beach Salvage Camp") was a little further south and did have a British encampment, 60th British Regiment of Foot (Royal Americans) ca.1780, as ID'd by some of their buttons during an archeological excavation of that area in 1985.

Thanks again to all and this find makes memories of all the pull tabs and aluminum fade away a little. (Insert Aluminum Can or Pull Tab Emoji here)

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks everyone for the likes and Digger RJ, VP Navy and Crusader for the comments.

Crusader, interesting about the British styles of buckles. Do you have any other links to share on the British ones you mention?
I had no idea about an ID until I did the online search. Mine is a slightly different than the ones in the "Bucklepage" link. I had a couple of things going for me to help narrow it down. 1715 Spanish Plate going down locally was the biggest help and being directly onshore from one of them.

I thought it was a shoe buckle until I saw the info indicating it might be equestrian related.

Didn't even consider British but should have because an original Spanish salvage site ("The Winter Beach Salvage Camp") was a little further south and did have a British encampment, 60th British Regiment of Foot (Royal Americans) ca.1780, as ID'd by some of their buttons during an archeological excavation of that area in 1985.

Thanks again to all and this find makes memories of all the pull tabs and aluminum fade away a little. (Insert Aluminum Can or Pull Tab Emoji here)

Cru'dad found a small spectacle buckle today, it dates to the Tudor period, circa 16th C & went on the side of a leather boot. (although they had many uses) Have a look at my next post in about hour.

 

[Blak bart]

Wow...that's a beauty !! Congrats !! I know someone who has permission to dig there and is having some success. That's a nice one !!

 

[Blak bart]

The potential there is off the chart....I wish you success. Hope you get a gold one there.

 

[PetesPockets55]

Thanks BB for the well wishes. I'm actually very pleased with my two brass items because they are so unique. The hinge with the square headed fastening nail still attached and then this buckle with the tongue still attached as well.

Glad to hear the guys you know have been able to find some nice items.
I stopped by to see progress on the clearing 2-3 months ago and met a couple of guys digging for "shells" south of the boardwalk who said they had permission also. Unfortunately someone from the condo next door was upset and almost called the police on us just as I got there, so we didn't speak for long.

 

[Blak bart]

Ya..they would be very special to me too,knowing there background and the story makes it even better.....I feel gold in your future....got to be goodies there.

 

[RVRoamer73]

Beautiful buckle and a super sweet find. Congratsulations big time.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Very nice buckle!

 

[toasted]

Awesome to see something old like that coming out of the ground and in Florida too.

 

[Silvermonkey]

That's a crazy good find! Big congrats!

 

[xcopperstax]

Congrats on an excellent buckle. I am no authority on buckles but I'd be pretty excited to find that one!