🥇 BANNER Colonial/Civil War site yields unusual silver object

[Jason H.]

Last Sunday I headed out to a mixed colonial and Civil War site with my buddy Ron. After five years of going to this place, we have a good feel for where the old home sites are and where the Civil War camp relics are. I like to dig both. Recently, we discovered another home site near the back end of this property, so I decided to check it out in the late afternoon. On the way there, I dug a crusty 1798 Large Cent. Once there, one of my first finds was the 1875 Seated Liberty dime. Then followed flat buttons and some Civil War relics- a knapsack triangle and a variety of bullets. Then I get a decent reading in the button range. After removing a nail, it becomes an awesome signal, reading in the mid-90s on my MXT. I get out the pinpointer and hand digger and begin to uncover something silver about 10 inches down. Taking it out of the hole, I am thrilled but curious- what is this? It's either a dog or a bear, I think. It's handmade, heavy, and it appears to be pure silver. It looks like the top to a cane, but what is that atop its head? Looking inside it, something iron went through the top. Something went through its teeth and one ear is drilled out- but not the other. Does anyone know what this was or what time period it's from?
Thanks and HH,
Jason

Update: This little work of art has been identified as a officer's sword pommel from the Revolutionary War era.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

top off a cane or walking stick real nice find ...i don`t know about the top of it`s head

 

[pong12211]

Neat find...

 

[CASPER-2]

AWESOME FIND!!!

 

[G.A.P.metal]

I think all Silver and Gold had to have a mark of purity after a certain date...but i can`t remember the date...if no mark than it`s older than that.

 

[Jason H.]

Thanks guys...G.A.P. metal, I don't see any markings at all, so it likely pre-dates that. You may be right about it being a cane/walking stick, it's the knob on top that held something iron that's confusing me. Thanks!

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Maybe a Crown ??... English i`v seen something like that...but that would hurt the hand ...just thinking.

 

[WHADIFIND]

My thought would be the head to either a swagger stick or riding crop. It appears to be rather small for a cane. Dontcha think?
The hole through the teeth? Maybe for a metal loop? The one in the ear? The better to hear you with? LOL

Nice finds!

HH!

 

[ivan salis]

american colonial era * english made public tavern type "loin faced" pipe tobacco tamper * the bump part on the top is for packing down fresh unburnt tobacco-- the nose of the loin was used once it was burnt down a bit to push the burnt tobacco ash down --normally these were nailed onto a long wooden rod (thus the hole in its head at the ear )--- it was attached to a long wooden rod for 2 reasons ---one was to prevent theft of it (it was made of silver after all) and also since colonial era pipe stems were often quite long to give them enough reach for proper use) -- the clay pipe stems were so long to give the smokers "smoke" enough time to cool down before reaching them.--the mouth hole in the tamper at one time had a ring that went thru it long ago --- much like a old english loin type door knocker might have --the ring was to be able to hang up the tamper upon the tavern's wall by a nail -- so everyone could see it / use it who bought tobacco from tavern to smoke -- clay pipes were often give away or sold quite cheaply with the buying of a bit of tobacco
note ---some better off homes had these at them as well --being silver it marks a "classy" upscale type home -- I say you are either hitting fancy colonial era homes or a tavern site by finding this. --good job.

ps former 27 year pipe smoker

 

[John Boy]

Now those are some great Recovery's. Really like that lion head.it could be an old pipe tamper or it could be the butt end off of a knife and the part on top of his head could have been how it was held together.don't know just throwing some things out there.super great finds though. Way to go buddy.

 

[Jason H.]

My thought would be the head to either a swagger stick or riding crop. It appears to be rather small for a cane. Dontcha think?
The hole through the teeth? Maybe for a metal loop? The one in the ear? The better to hear you with? LOL

Nice finds!

HH!

You're right, it does seem a bit small for a cane. I wish it could hear me, and tell me what exactly it is!

 

[Jason H.]

american colonial era * english made public tavern type "loin faced" pipe tobacco tamper * the bump part on the top is for packing down fresh unburnt tobacco-- the nose of the loin was used once it was burnt down a bit to push the burnt tobacco ash down --normally these were nailed onto a long wooden rod (thus the hole in its head at the ear )--- it was attached to a long wooden rod for 2 reasons ---one was to prevent theft of it (it was made of silver after all) and also since colonial era pipe stems were often quite long to give them enough reach for proper use) -- the clay pipe stems were so long to give the smokers "smoke" enough time to cool down before reaching them.--the mouth hole in the tamper at one time had a ring that went thru it long ago --- much like a old english loin type door knocker might have --the ring was to be able to hang up the tamper upon the tavern's wall by a nail -- so everyone could see it / use it who bought tobacco from tavern to smoke -- clay pipes were often give away or sold quite cheaply with the buying of a bit of tobacco
note ---some better off homes had these at them as well --being silver it marks a "classy" upscale type home -- I say you are either hitting fancy colonial era homes or a tavern site by finding this. --good job.

ps former 27 year pipe smoker

Ivan, that is great info, thanks so much for identifying this! So it's 18th century, and a lion's face? That is really cool. I wouldn't have guessed it to be a tamper, but your description lines up perfectly with the artifact itself. Thanks again!

 

[Jason H.]

Now those are some great Recovery's. Really like that lion head.it could be an old pipe tamper or it could be the butt end off of a knife and the part on top of his head could have been how it was held together.don't know just throwing some things out there.super great finds though. Way to go buddy.

Thanks John Boy, appreciate it!

 

[Wldbil]

Nice finds... Looks like you have great area to hunt

 

[birdman]

Man,that could be a museum piece.Very nice.

 

[wheatfinder13]

That thing is cool, I like the seated dime

 

[BuckleBoy]

That dog's head is a FIRST RATE find right there.

 

[ronr]

Jason that has got to be the best find you have made so far. Glad you decided to take that long walk. Congrats on a super find. My banner vote is in.
Ron

 

[Steve in PA]

That is a fantastic find Jason! I'm glad it was down below the plow zone so it didn't get damaged by the plow. I think that is a Banner find and will put my vote in.

 

[Tnmountains]

What a nice pipe tamper and silver at that. I am thinking that is pretty rare. Good bunch of relics also. I liked your comment above "I wish it could hear me, and tell me what exactly it is!" I think Ivan heard you and nailed it. Pretty cool Jason. Great post.