Found today, half a belt buckle, need help in aging/ID

[Possumguts]

Found this today at a farm which was built in 1878. I know it is one part of a two part belt buckle, but I know nothing about it's age or type. I've seen Police and Fire buckles of similar vintage, and even Civil War types, but I'm clueless on this half.
Comments appreciated. Thanks.

 

[sscindercoop]

Nice find!!!!

 

[jgas]

Civil War type to me...But I am not sure. Maybe CS buckle...get out there and find the other half. Nice find.. Someone will chime in here real soon..... jgas

 

[allen]

that is a great looking old buckle !!

 

[spartacus53]

WTG on that buckle and I hope you can find the other half of it. I would search that ground over again. It does look to be CW issue, maybe NC.

 

[Evan/tn]

looks civil war type

 

[FortBedfordbob]

Nice one ! Good Luck on finding the other half

 

[Tank69]

nice buckle

 

[nova treasure]

I am 99% sure It's a "Haiman Style" CS Buckle. I would Pound the heck out of that site to try and find the CS tongue part. These Confederate Civil War buckles are very Rare to find and it's Value is Very Rich to our History and to a Collector.

Excellent Find, Nova Treasure

P.S. I hope those that think this is a Bottle Opener or ? will Pay attention to the Various Relics that are found and Shown and it may teach you the Historical Significance of these finds. There is alot to learn for all of Us.

 

[hogge]

You have the "Wreath" half of a tongue and wreath style, Civil War buckle. I would go back to the exact hole you dug it from and search all around it to find the other half. I would imagine it's either CS or NC also. Congrats.......Hogge

 

[BuckleBoy]

I am 99% sure It's a "Haiman Style" CS Buckle. I would Pound the heck out of that site to try and find the CS tongue part. These Confederate Civil War buckles are very Rare to find and it's Value is Very Rich to our History and to a Collector.

Excellent Find, Nova Treasure

P.S. I hope those that think this is a Bottle Opener or ? will Pay attention to the Various Relics that are found and Shown and it may teach you the Historical Significance of these finds. There is alot to learn for all of Us.

There are very subtle differences in the wreath varieties that one can discern with much patience and a careful eye.

I agree with your "P.S." 110%. For some this find would've gone in the trash. There was a Haiman tonge portion C.S. found on this forum within the last year.


What is needed to identify this find is the book on plates.



-BB

 

[BuckleBoy]

Nova, I think you've may have got it right. Haiman Wreath.That's the only example that I can find with the leaves and wreath designs on the loops as well--but in the photo below, please note that the Haiman tongue portion doesn't match.


$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$


and a KILLER FIND if it is a Haiman wreath.





http://www.confederaterelics.com/button/Haiman front.jpg




-Buckles

 

[Sofaman36]

Great find!!! I would go back and really pound the place out and try to find the other half of it!!!

 

[garthbfan169]

WTG poss that is awesome!! ANd it looks in great shape also!!

 

[johnreb1980]

Sweet find. I bet the other half is there some where.

 

[johnnyi]

Possum, I'm going to try again here. The variations I'm looking at are the wreath design, the belt loop design, and style of the back. Based on those three elements, the closest match I see listed in Kerksis seems to be State of Virginia circa 1850 rarity 6. Again though, when you consider the matching wreath design in some of the vary rare militia and government issued, and NY sword buckles, it might be premature to exclude that possibility yet. I would post the illustration of Norm Flaydermann's example, however I believe copyright rules prohibit that? If you give me an address to where I can send a scan privately I'll do so.

 

[nova treasure]

I was going by this Private Collection example.

Nova Treasure

 

[johnnyi]

Nova, unfortunately the photo doesn't show the back, tongue groove, or whether it is a solid flat back or a depressed back. Some of these subtleties differentiate many examples that look very similar.

 

[johnnyi]

Nova, I think you are right. I'd eliminated Buckleboy's variety because the crossed ribbons of the wreath castings were solid rather than depressed. The Haiman example from the Virginia historical society, as well as your private exampe do match, and after checking the back , there is a match also. To confuse things though, the Virginia example is also a match and the differences seem to be in the weight and size of the castings. (the Haiman measures about 51 milimeters tall while the Virginia 1851 measures 52mm)

 

[Monty]

Naw, it's a bottle opener you guys! I can't believe anyone thought that after all the fine examples I have seen here on Tnet. That is a find of half a lifetime. Find the other half and it is a full lifetime! EXCELLENT! Monty