Camp cody dump find

[jimzz977]

I found this tag at camp cody , I posted in today's finds. I thinking was is it some kind I d tag after looking though a loupe I ca n see a eagle, markings GALl.M FRY, 151A.CAV, TROOP B, or 8. Wondering it belong to soldier?

 

[Mud Hut]

15th Iowa Cavalry maybe?

 

[nhbenz]

I agree, that looks right. My understanding is that these date after the civil war up until 1913 when the military began issuing dog tags. While similar tags were used by some in the civil war they were not commercially made like this one specifically for this purpose.

Added: This particaular design can be found marketed as and used for key tags, even after the ID tag market disappeared.
-does this one maybe say 1st instead of 15th? ...it's a bit hard to read.

 

[jimzz977]

Yeah I think it's a one instead of I , 151A CAV , maybe. So you thinking dog tag??!

 

[jimzz977]

is like my find

 

[nhbenz]

Well, that's eBay... in the thread below note the old ad that Bigcypresshunter shows in post #12. (From the 1920's).
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/356851-civil-war-id-badge.html
While some amount of these were used in a dog tag manner (not government issued), it's also possible that this soldier simply just used it for his keys or even on a watch fob.

 

[cw0909]

some findings on the cw id tags
an article by Steve Swain
Civil War ?Dog Tags?: Sutlers Solve the ID Dilemma - Civil War ?Dog Tags?: Sutlers Solve the ID Dilemma - |

maybe Bigcypresshunter post with the ad, (no date)
was from a co. that later adopted the idea for key tag
for the surplus leftovers of war id tags
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/356851-civil-war-id-badge.html#post3394808

 

[jimzz977]

Thanks for your input, I'm thinking personal made id tag made by the soldier