Couldn’t get it out my mind so went back to my throwaway box and LOOK!

[Truth]

I detected this last week at a 1820’s site and assumed it was a piece of camp lead. It’s been on my mind because of that hole, so I took another look a decided to give it a cleaning and noticed some lettering. Any ideas to how I can clean it more or should I leave it like this? Take a look and tell me what it might be or say. A friend of mine thinks it’s a I.D tag. I love this crazy hobby.View attachment 1617967View attachment 1617968I found this with it. View attachment 1617969

 

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[wallrat_1975]

I'm no expert but I believe the hole may be irrelevant. I see a "ripple" around the hole which leads me to believe that during the burn it bubbled. Just my humble opinion. I'd leave it as is and call it a conversation piece

 

[Truth]

I'm no expert but I believe the hole may be irrelevant. I see a "ripple" around the hole which leads me to believe that during the burn it bubbled. Just my humble opinion. I'd leave it as is and call it a conversation piece

What about the writing? I sent a picture to a friend and he believes it’s a I.D tag. He’s excited about it.

 

[jimzz977]

Humm maybe craved and fatten minie ball, game token??

 

[Truth]

Humm maybe craved and fatten minie ball, game token??

No much bigger and heavier than a 69 Minnie ball.

 

[islamoradamark]

maybe a soft toof brush ever so lightly [some air from a air compressor]

 

[huntsman53]

Could it possibly be a Cotton Bale Lead Seal with identification of the Grower or Buyer??

 

[Truth]

Could it possibly be a Cotton Bale Lead Seal with identification of the Grower or Buyer??

Biggest one I’ve ever seen and I think not sure, but every bag seal I ever found was smaller and round.

 

[peruna]

Truth1253-
It very well may be exactly what you first thought it was...a piece of camp lead or other scrap. The original owner then might have had the idea your friend posited about becoming an ID tag, and inscribed it or had it done.

A NP ranger friend at Ft Donelson years ago told me that attaching names to items before battle was common...mostly paper that was pinned to uniforms, but later in the war metal that was more durable. He also shared that the "penmanship" or scrollwork was always exceptional to our eye because of the lack of that skill nowadays.

Regardless, it is an exceptional find, and interesting that your mind fired the neurons to "take another look". Nicely done.

 

[bearbqd]

That is definitely some intentional nice looking lettering on it. Could very well be what you think. Awesome!

 

[Truth]

Truth1253-
It very well may be exactly what you first thought it was...a piece of camp lead or other scrap. The original owner then might have had the idea your friend posited about becoming an ID tag, and inscribed it or had it done.

A NP ranger friend at Ft Donelson years ago told me that attaching names to items before battle was common...mostly paper that was pinned to uniforms, but later in the war metal that was more durable. He also shared that the "penmanship" or scrollwork was always exceptional to our eye because of the lack of that skill nowadays.

Regardless, it is an exceptional find, and interesting that your mind fired the neurons to "take another look". Nicely done.

Thank you very much for the feedback and compliment peruna. It looks like it was “rolled” like they use to do coins sometimes.

 

[Truth]

That is definitely some intentional nice looking lettering on it. Could very well be what you think. Awesome!

I truly think I’m on to something

 

[Rookster]

For sure that's an interesting find.

 

[Truth]

For sure that's an interesting find.

I know my friend is a CW junkie and he said he had a gut feeling that is was something special. He never really gets excited about much anymore because he’s seen a lot and that really made me feel good that he was very inquisitive about it. He just texted me again and said I should at least try to take some thin paper and a pencil and try to shade the letters out. Amazing how I looked at something as not much but lead slag that looked like a vagina with a hole in it and because of that hole it was stuck in my head, for some unknown reason, to go take another look. Now it’s captured my imagination.

 

[TheCoinKid]

I'm thinking it started out as camp lead, which was then nicely personalized, transforming it into something much more. The hole may or may not be incidental to the piece. Not sure if we will ever know for certain what the intentions of the engraver was, but it sure doesn't belong in the throwaway box. Anything personalized from that period is something special.

 

[Truth]

I'm thinking it started out as camp lead, which was then nicely personalized, transforming it into something much more. The hole may or may not be incidental to the piece. Not sure if we will ever know for certain what the intentions of the engraver was, but it sure doesn't belong in the throwaway box. Anything personalized from that period is something special.

Thanks TCK I think you’re right and it is in the display case where it rightfully should be. Thanks again