First Plate!

[terpfan]

Okay, its not in the best condition, but I'm still smiling! I was detecting an early 1800s homesite that I've searched for the past six months, and came up with a few goodies. The US plate was found with the M6 at a 10" depth in the middle of the back lawn. It gave a 90 VDI, and I was really expecting a piece of junk, perhaps a piece of copper pipe. Wow--was I surprised to see the oval shape and those letters! Too bad about the poor condition. I have seen plates that others have found on TNET but never expected to find one myself. I don't believe there were any civil war activities in this part of Maryland (just north of Olney), so I am guessing that a returning veteran lost the plate. There appears to be a nail that was driven through the plate and I wonder why. I'm guessing the same returning veteran also lost the navy button. The back says "Jos. H. Starkey London". It was found at only 2" in depth and has a lot of gold gilding on it. Thanks to Buckles for his button cleaning tips. The naval jelly did a great job, though I made a mistake and used a little on the ungilded portion of the shank and took off a bit of the surface. Would appreciate any information on the CW relics. Thanks for looking and HH!

 

[romeo-1]

VERY NICE!!!

 

[MonkeyBoy]

Nice, you never forget your first!! ;-) The nail might have been to try to keep it on the cartridge box or it might be the iron poking through but it does look like a nail.. also, early relic collectors liked to nail plates to boards for displays but I don't think that is the case here.. any in case.. great find!!! Esp for a first.. My first was out of a garden, it had been tilled a million times and you could hardly tell it was a plate!!

MB

 

[ticm]

real nice plate

 

[civilman1]

Congratulation's on your first plate Steve Sometime's the iron hook's will penetrate and will bleed onto the front,still a great find.You'd be suprised where CW action took place in Maryland.

 

[colorado14ers]

wow!!! congrats!!!

 

[birdman]

Fantastic relics!!

 

[terpfan]

Nice, you never forget your first!! ;-) The nail might have been to try to keep it on the cartridge box or it might be the iron poking through but it does look like a nail.. also, early relic collectors liked to nail plates to boards for displays but I don't think that is the case here.. any in case.. great find!!! Esp for a first.. My first was out of a garden, it had been tilled a million times and you could hardly tell it was a plate!!

MB

Thanks MB. I think I'll keep the nail (if that is what it is) in the plate for display purposes, it adds a bit to the mystique. For the same reason I also love to find holed coins, as they have been personalized. I hope that first plate you found gave you the same thrill as this one gave me, even if it was a bit mutilated.

 

[terpfan]

Congratulation's on your first plate Steve Sometime's the iron hook's will penetrate and will bleed onto the front,still a great find.You'd be suprised where CW action took place in Maryland.

Thanks Civil, this was one of my favorite all-time finds. I know what you are saying about CW action in Maryland. I live and detect very close to the DC line, and have not found very many CW-related finds, though I once did find a minie ball only a quarter mile from the DC line in Chevy Chase.

 

[ringfinder]

Wow, Congratulations on your first Civil War Cartridge box Plate. It looks fantastic, I have never
found a plate of any kind. I hope to someday put my coil over one and get the same feeling you
got when your found yours.

All your finds are great, I'd be hitting that site again and again.

HH, Ringfinder

 

[terpfan]

Wow, Congratulations on your first Civil War Cartridge box Plate. It looks fantastic, I have never
found a plate of any kind. I hope to someday put my coil over one and get the same feeling you
got when your found yours.

All your finds are great, I'd be hitting that site again and again.

HH, Ringfinder

Thanks RF! I sure hope you can find one too. The funny thing is how close I was to not digging this one out. After digging a of couple inches below the bottom of my Lesche, about 9", the large signal was still in the hole. I don't think I have ever found anything of significance with this type of signal. I definitely was not optimistic about recovering anything good. I decided to take out one additional plug and the plate was in the pile of soil. I nearly died when I saw those letters on the side of the plate. Talk about lucky!

 

[Brian in MA]

That would put a smile on my face too.

Congrats on a great find !!!

Brian in MA

 

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

sweet plate and that button isn't an eyesore either

 

[terpfan]

That would put a smile on my face too.

Congrats on a great find !!!

Brian in MA

Thanks Brian!

sweet plate and that button isn't an eyesore either

Thanks, HEAVYMETALNUT! Do you think the wearer of the button could have been the same person who wore the plate, or just a coincidence that they were found at the same homesite?

 

[VOL1266-X]

Congrats TF!!! The Union Veteran's loss was your gain and some nice additions to your collection. Keep pounding that yard and Good Luck. HH, Quindy.

 

[Tnmountains]

What an exciting find! You did a great job in cleaning and restoring too. The relics are great.
It is days like today that make you look forward to tomorrow.

Congratulations

 

[Skelly607]

Congratulations! Dont kid yourself thats a nice plate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[{Sentinel}]

ALRIGHT!!!! Congratulations!!!! FEW feelings compare to that moment you dig your first plate!