Civil War Medal ??

[mkreid]

Hello all, New to this site and love it already. I need some help on a recent find ............

I dug this "medal" up at about 4 to 5 inches on the edge of a cemetery in northern Pennsylvania. The cemetery dates back to the mid-1800's. The medal is 1.25 inches across and 1.5 inches in length. Sorry for the picture quality. I had to scan. The top is an eagle - with a round raised center that used to house some type of insert. There are wheat or olive branches down the sides - ending at a bow at the bottom of the medal. Unfortunately there are no words or writing anywhere on it - must have been all on the now-gone insert. The back has nothing on it. Any input would be greatly appreciated !

 

[nhbenz]

It looks like the better part of a Civil War reunion medal that would have hung from a bar above it, which then pins to your shirt... The guy who lost it was probably bummed to get home to find only the top pinned in place. Welcome to Treasurenet!

 

[PBK]

Welcome! It's great to have you aboard here at TNet!

Ben's right— as usual. This item is almost certainly the "drop" (bottom portion) of a Grand Army of the Republic (Union veterans) badge, c. 1890-1910. However, without the missing medallic inset it's difficult to guess from which encampment (convention/reunion) it may have come.

 

[mkreid]

As I figured, I came to the right place ! Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback and help. It's good to know what I have. While I've detected on and off for 30 years now, it's just in the recent year I got full swing back into this wonderful hobby. Coming from New Jersey, I've not had the pleasure of pulling up such interesting pieces. It appears I have a lot of study ahead to learn the field of antiquities I will start finding here in Pa. I, embarrassingly enough, had to even have someone tell me I had a union civil war button just the other day. I thought it was WWI. Thanks again for the great feedback ! If anyone can identify further, it would be greatly appreciated !