Found Rare 1840 William Henry Harrison Poitical Pin

[Brendan M.]

It seems like there's been a good amount of political pin, token, etc. action in the forum lately, so I thought I'd share one I just found. First though, a little background: I've started actively hunting a spot in the woods where I've located the foundation of an old house that was most likely the homestead of a very prominent early Long Island family. After a few cursory trips I'm already finding some good relics. Can't wait to hit it harder.

I've found buckles, brooches, ammo, china/glass, a late 1850s thermometer (my post on that is at http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,119462.msg876701.html#msg876701) and best of all, a rare 1840 William Henry Harrison political pin that is quite valuable (at least in good condition; mine is not and the pin part is gone). The very wise PBK was able to ID it for me in the other forum (thanks again PBK!). PBK says:

The log cabin piece is a political pin from the 1840 presidential campaign of the Whig "Log Cabin and Hard Cider" candidate, William Henry Harrison. Some of these had a glass inset and color enameling— sort of like a miniature framed picture— although I don't think this one did. Don't know about the value of yours, but "book price" (Hake's) for a nice, nonexcavated example is $500.

Also, here's a link to an auction catalog for one of these pins, which sold for $650 in 2005 (higher than the listed price!): http://books.google.com/books?id=PY...ts=DNfLvEQeyo&sig=9d0SWru0H5OPF02PFrO4bBskCys. (Again, thanks to PBK for this info as well.)

I'm just amazed I found it at all -- the thing is tiny, and it was in one of the open fields adjacent to the house site. Needle in a haystack! God I love my XLT.

I'll post some pics of the pin, as well as other items from the site. I'll keep you all updated on the finds from here.

Cheers,
Brendan

 

[birdman]

Very cool for sure and collectable too.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Brendan:

I remmember when I was in college on Long Island I was on an archeological dig in a wooded area right near where you live. I found quite a few large cents, but I was closely supervised so I had to give them to my professer. He probably has them on display in his coin collection now!

NICE find!!

 

[panzermeyer]

High fives on the rare find !! God Bless and hh...Panz

 

[Brendan M.]

Thanks. I'm going to have to hunt the hell out of this spot while I can, because once the warm weather returns next summer it's going to be crawling with ticks. DEET doesn't even phase those little devils...

 

[EDDE]

*insert musical melody*
He died in office after 30 days
side note good deal a very good find in my book

 

[bookfisher]

Hey Brendan, that Harrison pin is a really great find! WTG! Definitley one for the case!

 

[Joe G]

It seems like there's been a good amount of political pin, token, etc. action in the forum lately, so I thought I'd share one I just found. First though, a little background: I've started actively hunting a spot in the woods where I've located the foundation of an old house that was most likely the homestead of a very prominent early Long Island family. After a few cursory trips I'm already finding some good relics. Can't wait to hit it harder.

I've found buckles, brooches, ammo, china/glass, a late 1850s thermometer (my post on that is at http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,119462.msg876701.html#msg876701) and best of all, a rare 1840 William Henry Harrison political pin that is quite valuable (at least in good condition; mine is not and the pin part is gone). The very wise PBK was able to ID it for me in the other forum (thanks again PBK!). PBK says:

The log cabin piece is a political pin from the 1840 presidential campaign of the Whig "Log Cabin and Hard Cider" candidate, William Henry Harrison. Some of these had a glass inset and color enameling— sort of like a miniature framed picture— although I don't think this one did. Don't know about the value of yours, but "book price" (Hake's) for a nice, nonexcavated example is $500.

Also, here's a link to an auction catalog for one of these pins, which sold for $650 in 2005 (higher than the listed price!): http://books.google.com/books?id=PY...ts=DNfLvEQeyo&sig=9d0SWru0H5OPF02PFrO4bBskCys. (Again, thanks to PBK for this info as well.)

I'm just amazed I found it at all -- the thing is tiny, and it was in one of the open fields adjacent to the house site. Needle in a haystack! God I love my XLT.

I'll post some pics of the pin, as well as other items from the site. I'll keep you all updated on the finds from here.

Cheers,
Brendan

GREAT find! Not an easy thing to do in our parts. Research and patience pays off

 

[Brendan M.]

Thanks again! I'm finding research really IS the key here on LI. I would've loved to have been hunting the Island back in the 80s...

I went back yesterday to the spot for a couple of hours. I found an old brass lantern base, a horseshoe, a huge piece of plow blade, an iron barrel rim, and a bunch of bullets and shotgun shells. (I'm going to keep digging a few of the big iron signals each time I go, because they seem to generally be interesting items.) I also filled a small shopping bag with pieces of broken porcelain I found by a tree. Turns out it was made by Pitcairns Ltd. in Tunstall, England, between 1895 and 1901...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Cheers,
B

 

[Colonial KirkPA]

White's strikes again!

BDD...Kirk