A crazy rare Revolutionary War period General Washington cufflink.

[Aureus]

Got a nice holiday miracle this morning.
While going through various pieces of copper from my late December detecting trip I have noticed a pretty worn but interesting partial cufflink that seemed to have a right facing profile on it. I didn't pay too much attention to it at first, thinking I might have found one of the George III profile pieces.


To my surprise,after a bit of the research,it appears to be one of the rare types of early American patriotic jewellery. In fact, Heritage Auctions had a silver cufflink of the exact same type describing it as an Extremely Rare Circa 1775-1780 George Washington Shanked Cufflink The price realized seems to corroborate their statement and they mention knowing of only one other existing piece of this type (no mention of existence of the brass ones what so ever).


You can notice the clearly visible letters G-E (General) on the lower left and W-A (Washington) on the top right.
It's funny, but just a few days ago I was complaining to a friend of mine about the fact that I have never found any GW relic and questioning the possibility of ever finding one.Well it seems like I got way more than what I was hoping for as this item predates the inaugural buttons and was made before the end of the Revolutionary War.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[dansalata]

american history!!! awesome......

 

[xcopperstax]

That must have been pretty astonishing to find out that it was so rare! What a cool find. Congrats!

 

[gilmerman]

Wonderful, I would display this on my desk in a small frame. Great conversation piece. Yes, please do not clean it.

 

[Aureus]

Nice, be careful not to clean it.

No, there's no reason for trying to clean it. Might wash off the details.

 

[nwpa]

Congratulations on an amazing find!
Good luck and I hope you find the other one.

 

[Aureus]

Awesome find and great save, thanks for sharing and Congrats!!! "D"

Thanks Possum

 

[sprailroad]

Your mission, if you accept, is to find the matching one this year.

 

[dansalata]

holy ****

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Outstanding find, congratulations!

 

[bonepicker]

Very nice find Aureus. Didnt know these existed. Thanks for showing.

 

[Scrappy]

Outstanding find, especially up in the Great White North!

 

[Aureus]

That’s a very unique find.
Lots of history
Congrats

Thanks man.

 

[Aureus]

Awesome display item That is a really cool piece of history

Yes, for sure. Even in condition it is now.

 

[Aureus]

Very nice Aureus, Banner!

Thanks Reanm8er

 

[lairmo]

That is really cool! Congrats!!!

 

[Calabash Digger]

That's a good one!

 

[Patriot Relics]

That's one hell of an ID bud - huge congrats on another historic save

 

[Steve in PA]

Definitely the correct ID on that cufflink, and the first one of that type I've seen posted. Just a terrible shame about the condition. I found a rare G. Washington cufflink and it is also considered Rev War period or at least pre-inaugural. One of these went for 11K at heritage back in 2008.

 

[Aureus]

That is a crazy rare and great find! If that silver one was to come up today I'm sure it would go for double or tripe or more... so even in that condition I think you have a pretty awesome find!

Thanks man. Too bad the condition isn't there.

 

[Aureus]

that's an awesome find. Now you need to complain to your friend that you've never found a treasure chest

Thanks, I will do that