A very unexpected find!!!!!

Carver · May 1, 2008

Hi all!
I don't usually post here but thought I had to show this find.. I found this in my Mother-in-laws' yard,,, Turn of the century farm house,, nothing special about it,,, at least as far as I know... I'm gonna research a little more now tho! I was using my M6 with the stock coil and got a very loud penny hit at 4",,, I figured it was a hunk of iron or junk but I dug anyway as I wanted to see what was buried in this yard because I've never hunted it before. At 6" I popped out this heavy disk that was covered in white powdery stuff. When I cleaned it with soap and water and a toothbrush this is what I found. It's a Union Enlisteds' man's shoulder belt plate, circa 1863,, It still has the studs on the back and is in great shape. I'm told it's very rare to find one in this condition with the studs... I'm in seventh heaven!!!! A find of a lifetime for me! Thanks for looking,,, Dan

Carver · May 6, 2008

BuckleBoy said:
PALEOMAN said:

that is a fantastic find ! what is the best way to care for/ preserve it ?

Click to expand...

Looks clean to me. I wouldn't to any more than what you've done on the plate.

By the way, the back isn't "dirty" (as some have suggested) It really is merely the lead filled backing on the item.

-Buckleboy

Buckleboy,,, So that's why it's heavy as lead!!

I was told it would be a good idea to put some rust inhibitor on the hooks on the back

?

BuckleBoy · May 6, 2008

carverwood said:
BuckleBoy said:

PALEOMAN said:

that is a fantastic find ! what is the best way to care for/ preserve it ?

Click to expand...

Looks clean to me. I wouldn't to any more than what you've done on the plate.

By the way, the back isn't "dirty" (as some have suggested) It really is merely the lead filled backing on the item.

-Buckleboy

Click to expand...

Buckleboy,,, So that's why it's heavy as lead!! I was told it would be a good idea to put some rust inhibitor on the hooks on the back?

Yep.

Since electrolysis is out of the question for those iron hooks, I'd do something to preserve them. Let's see what others say...but I do know for certain that part of the value of the plate depends on the presence of the hooks.

-Buckleboy