🥇 BANNER ~~Colonial Cellar Hole~~1775 "Liberty" Buckle~~

johnnyblaze

Silver Member
Dec 20, 2010
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Rhode Island
🥇 Banner finds
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What is up Tnet:hello:

Just got my detector back from being fixed i snapped it in half a few weeks ago..

Got out to a cellar i had already been to but for some reason i had a feeling to go back:icon_scratch:

It was snowy and slushy but i ended up pulling this killer 1775 "Liberty" buckle and gave me the push to hit it hard.It was my first dig
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I cannot find this particular buckle anywhere online but im sure its Revolutionary War related..I read something about a Albany regiment but no pics.So a positve ID is needed please..

Felt good to get out i also grabbed a childs toy pewter iron..Imagine that,this is what children played with:laughing7:

Colonial chape and a smoked like cheech and chong Largie..

Good luck out there:hello:

~Blaze~
 

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Upvote 61
Thanks for the input everyone i really appreciate it:hello:

You can clearly see the same person engraved both buckles.Like Cru said by hand they will never be exact..This is absolutely positively a period piece in my opinion.I think the letters on top were the soldiers name..

~Blaze~

I'm not in the soldiers name camp, no pun intended. As far as I'm aware there is no other item of this nature that has all the carving done at the same time with inidividuals initials. Soldiers initials are normally a later add on.
 

This being found in Connecticut has a connection to The broadside movement as this CT pamphlet shows..

I did not know Benedict Arnold was from CT:laughing7:
Even before war erupted, Connecticut passed anti-Tory laws. In time, these—and harassment from liberty-minded neighbors—forced many loyal to Britain to flee their homes or suffer imprisonment. When fighting started in 1775 - See more at: Revolutionary War | ConnecticutHistory.org
 

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Johnny, William Penn had a son who was loyal to Britain and thought the revolters were traitors. A house he had built still stands on the grounds of the Philadelphia Zoo ( the oldest zoo in America ). The curator allowed my gf ( I think a lot of it had to do with the fact she is British ) and myself to go inside and he gave us the verbal tour. We weren't supposed to go inside as it is closed to visitors, but when I explained that visiting the house was the main reason for us coming to the zoo, he decided to let us just into the entry. If you think what it must have been like to live during those times, an open minded person can understand the emotional conflict our ancestors must have had.
 

No, its worn, look closely, I can see the centre bar of the E & a little of the top.

Still not seeing it and not sure how you are?

JB, what do you see holding it in your hand? Is it an E or an L?
 

Still not seeing it and not sure how you are?

JB, what do you see holding it in your hand? Is it an E or an L?

Looks like an L to me.
 

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I'm with you JB. I see an "L". Great find ! We'd all like to find something so unique and possibly a significant piece of our history. :thumbsup:
 

Quite the amazing buckle find Johnny! :occasion14:
It took me almost 15mins to read the entire thread, which is something I rarely have time to do! :laughing7:

Nice to see you received a confirmation on what it is from (John) Devonrex!
Dave
 

Looks like an L to me.

That close up is better, the remants of a line on the top looks more like an imperfection in the metal.

Therefore, if we have different letters at the top, it makes me think later than 18th C, as I can't see this being the way the military would issue, unless its has nothing to do with peoples names.
 

That close up is better, the remants of a line on the top looks more like an imperfection in the metal.

Therefore, if we have different letters at the top, it makes me think later than 18th C, as I can't see this being the way the military would issue, unless its has nothing to do with peoples names.

Cru i think your on to something because i looked up the Revolutionary war soldiers from this town and wouldn't you know only one and he lived in the house next to this one!!!

His first name begins with a J and i have a strong feeling that this could have been his..

I feel Devonrex Id'ed this correctly already i mean the plate sold for almost 3 grand!!

This is period and the two Liberty engraving"s where done by the same hand in my opinion..

Cowan's Auctions: The Midwest's Most Trusted Auction House / Antiques / Fine Art / Art Appraisals

~Blaze~
 

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Would be nice if you could find the other piece!
 

Cru i think your on to something because i looked up the Revolutionary war soldiers from this town and wouldn't you know only one and he lived in the house next to this one!!!

His first name begins with a J and i have a strong feeling that this could have been his..

I feel Devonrex Id'ed this correctly already i mean the plate sold for almost 3 grand!!

This is period and the two Liberty engraving"s where done by the same hand in my opinion..

Cowan's Auctions: The Midwest's Most Trusted Auction House / Antiques / Fine Art / Art Appraisals

~Blaze~

I don't really care what someone paid for it, its more interesting to get to the truth. The money is not an ID or an explanation. The questions are still unanswered. What is it telling us?
 

I don't really care what someone paid for it, its more interesting to get to the truth. The money is not an ID or an explanation. The questions are still unanswered. What is it telling us?

Well the monetary value tells me 2 things Cru baby...

The purchaser of that buckle new the history of it.

And was confident enough in it they dropped $2900.00 smackaroos to purchase it!!

So find this person and we know the history its out there somewhere..

~Blaze~
 

Well the monetary value tells me 2 things Cru baby...

The purchaser of that buckle new the history of it.

And was confident enough in it they dropped $2900.00 smackaroos to purchase it!!

So find this person and we know the history its out there somewhere..

~Blaze~

Right! They're not going to pay a lot for something that's not period.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using TreasureNet
 

Well the monetary value tells me 2 things Cru baby...

The purchaser of that buckle new the history of it.

And was confident enough in it they dropped $2900.00 smackaroos to purchase it!!

So find this person and we know the history its out there somewhere..

~Blaze~

Get what your saying but museums have spent millions on fakes, so confidence (paying money) is not a certainty on a correct ID.

However, 2 people thought it rare & significant, & like you state they would be a very good avenue for questioning. Because there is a chance they know something that is not general knowledge.

What I forgot to mention, is that this is not a British made item,(my opinion) as far as I'm aware the only 2 nations big on the word 'Liberty' was the US & France (after/during the French Revolution). Those are where the hunt should be centred, & being that its in English, the US becomes most likely.
 

The item first belonged to the Rex Stark collection and then to the John W. Armiger (Jr.) Collection. The Armigers both father and son some to have a lot to do with veterans awareness and that of fire/police/public saftey in the Baltimore, MD area. John Jr. helps maintain a scholarship for Maryland college/university students with an interest in public safety issues. I say all of this because John Jr sits on the board of the scholarship and it has a website and email address. So you could if you wish reach out to John Jr and he may have more information on this piece.

I will say that the other Armiger collection items sold at Cowans auction at that time were both numerous and of good quality. Might have to remind him about this piece if you get ahold of him.
 

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