πŸ₯‡ BANNER 1837 SLAVE TAG & Rev War PEWTER!

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,705
5,529
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
4
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Hey guys,

Been overseas for 2 weeks and have been itching to get back to the lowcountry and knock the dust of the CTX. While I would have been perfectly happy to walk away with a flat button, I could never have predicted a night like this. This particular site has proven to be a great spot to meet other diggers on TNet. Over the course of the last month, we have had multiple group hunts with amazing success. Affectionately known as the watermelon patch, the dirt is packed with 300 years of history and continues to produce. The evening started out as most do, surface pottery, glass, and brick shards- the normal indicators for a killer site. Given the volume of targets and age of the site, everything dug ends up in my pouch for later identification. After arriving home I had no idea what I had dug. As I was working through my round stuff pocket, I noticed the familiar look of pewter. While only a partial, I carefully tooth picked away the corrosion hoping for a design of some sort...6...7!

P2170171.JPG P2170172.JPG

First Revolutionary War button of 2016, and finally an end to a 1 year regimental drought. Curiously, the 67th Regiment of Foot did not serve in North America during the war although 1 other example is noted in Troiani's book as being recovered in SC. Perhaps the soldier was attached to another unit during the occupation.

20160217_154708.jpg 20160217_155345.jpg

At this point I am already running around the kitchen, until I notice a familiar shape in the misc pocket-rectangular and made of brass. May have dug my first plate? After a bit of careful cleaning, my heart started pounding. Could this actually be what I think it is...holy **** its a Charleston Slave TAG! 1837 Servant #573. For me there are no words to express how it feels holding such a piece of history. The stories this discarded object could tell- stories which would have been lost after the site is covered in concrete.

20160217_205312.jpg P2170168.JPG P2170170.JPG P2170167.JPG

Among the other digs was a curious pewter spoon with an unknown benchmark, flat buttons, round balls, and a tiny pewter heart. Any ID help with the spoon is great appreciated.

HM 2.jpg HM 1.jpg P2170176.JPG

Certainly a night I will never forget- Rev War Regimental and a Charleston Slave tag at one site. This is why we spend the hours we do digging and swinging. As always, thanks for looking and get out there and save the next piece of history.

P2170174.JPG P2170175.JPG P2190177.JPG

Update- After 48 hours in oil and a light brushing I am happy with the balance of patina and corrosion...after all its been in the ground for 179 years :laughing7:. Thanks to everyone for the kind words and for giving this history the attention it deserves.

After a bit of research I have been able to confirm the tag was manufactured by Charleston silversmith William M. Rouse. He apprenticed until 1834 as a silversmith under John Ewan and subsequently went into business for himself. In 1836 he was awarded the city contract for manufacturing tags. Rouse's tags are unique in that he used a series of small dots around the stamped occupations on his badges from the 1830s. He continued making badges until 1840, size though growing increasingly smaller due to the increased cost of materials or diminishing profit margins. In 1837 he manufactured 3722 tags for a total contract of $8,141. Unfortunately the trail goes cold regarding the poor soul who wore the tag. All records were lost after the Civil War-

P2190179.JPG
 

Last edited:
Upvote 112
OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,705
5,529
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
4
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
That's about as good as it gets! I suspect you would have been happy with just the button, but nice job going over the top with that tag!

Other than digging colonial gold there isn't a target I'd rather dig than a Revolutionary War button...except a Charleston Tag...but I would have bet you yesterday I had a better chance of finding the gold.
 

DirtStalker

Bronze Member
Sep 26, 2014
2,246
3,336
Upstate SC
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
3
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Deus
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Thanks Bill, iron masking is likely the reason it had not been recovered by the other diggers. The CTX did not manage the same quantity of targets as the DEUS hunters, but its hard to beat when swung low and slow.

And the fact they keep pushing dirt around to dry out this place. Keeps things coming up
 

JerV3

Gold Member
Feb 28, 2005
5,718
2,613
Three Rivers
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab Etrac ,Xp Deus, Ctx 3030, Vanquish 440 X 2, Equinox 600, Equinox 800
Phenomenal find man

It's in beautiful shape

Congrats
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,705
5,529
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
4
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
KILLER day and what an amazing group shot. Great job unmasking a banner tag in perfect condition. :notworthy:

Thanks OutdoorAdv, apparently after the tax year they were suppose to be destroyed...explains why they are normally folded. This one is rock solid and has some weight to it
 

Last edited:

DocBeav

Bronze Member
Jul 8, 2012
1,697
3,157
SE Va
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
1
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
6
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 800, Minelab CTX 3030 (17", 11", 6" coils), Minelab Excalibur 800, Minelab Excalibur 1000 (w/OBN's Remote Pinpoint mod and CTX headphone connector)
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Man! What a great hunt! That slave tag is awesome! Banner vote in!
 

CladiatorMax

Full Member
Nov 1, 2012
104
52
Garden Grove, California
Detector(s) used
Minelab Excalibur II & Sovereign GT / Garrett Carrot / Stavr Scoops
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
WOW! talk about history and some emotion to go with it! thanks for sharing.
 

basque-man

Silver Member
Sep 26, 2014
2,521
3,119
W. Nevada / N. CA
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus; Minelab E-Trac; Son (Wyatt) uses XP Deus!
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Great pieces of history you have found!!! Congrats!!!:occasion14:
 

oxbowbarefoot

Banned
May 25, 2011
2,268
1,850
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
4
Primary Interest:
Other
The slave tag is definitely a Banner find. The regimental button is great, too!
 

Fletch88

Silver Member
Mar 7, 2013
4,841
2,367
Valdosta, GA
Detector(s) used
Garrett ATPro- 8.5x11, 5x8, CORS Fotune 5.5x9.5
Tesoro Silver microMax- 8 donut, 8x11 RSD, 3x18 Cleansweep
Minelab Excalibur ll- 10" Tornado
Minelab CTX 3030
Minelab Xterra 305
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
The button alone would be banner for me! Congrats on an awesome day!
 

thrifty76now

Silver Member
Mar 18, 2009
3,987
3,723
Sunman Indiana
Detector(s) used
Whites XLT MINELAB SE
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
AWESOME,those slave tags are not found or posted very often. That find will be remembered by you forever. I wonder where the thousands and thousands of those went to.
 

gheenoe78

Hero Member
Nov 21, 2014
531
735
South Carolina
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, Garrett ACE 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
The only only hand that beats that regimental pewter is a straight flush and you laid it down. Amazing find buddy. Banner all the way. Congratulations on saving an incredibly sad but special piece of history.
 

Old Dude

Gold Member
Feb 20, 2013
8,799
9,849
Luzerne County, Pa
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
2
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75, Garrett ATPro, Garrett GTAx 500
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
And the fact they keep pushing dirt around to dry out this place. Keeps things coming up

Excuses, excuses!

Great job in those finds. Which do you think is better...having one super hunt with two of your desires found or spreading them out so you get two great hunts? I will take either please!
 

Mr. Digger

Hero Member
Nov 25, 2014
590
1,409
Massachusetts
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 800, SE pro
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Congrats on a couple of very rare finds. Awesome!
 

DirtStalker

Bronze Member
Sep 26, 2014
2,246
3,336
Upstate SC
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
3
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Deus
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Excuses, excuses!

Great job in those finds. Which do you think is better...having one super hunt with two of your desires found or spreading them out so you get two great hunts? I will take either please!

It was so shallow you could have found it with a F75/or even Kicked it out of ground:laughing7:
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,705
5,529
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
4
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Nice 67th button! Very cool since it's rare! That slave tag is te real winner, I'm waiting to get my cool over one of those beauties!

Thanks Luke, very little material regarding the role of the 67th. Should make for some interesting research
 

DownNDirty

Bronze Member
Jun 1, 2015
2,178
3,194
South Carolina
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
1
πŸ† Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 800
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
The WP is an amazing site. This was an incredible combination of rare finds and definitely has my vote for banner. Congrats Jon!
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top