Help me figure this piece out....Once and for all.

thecolonel · May 6, 2013

As mentioned last week in my intro, I have been metal detecting for about 35 years. Started when I was sixteen. I throw a lot of my trashy finds away, but over the 35 years, I have also kept a lot of "iffy" finds in shoe boxes. When the mood hits me, I will delve into the box and pull something out and take a second look. This piece has intrigued me for many years. I realize it is only a fragment. Can anyone help me identify what it was? Finally? Appears to be a thin copper of some sort. Thanks for taking a look.

nhbenz · May 6, 2013

Appears to me to be part of a hat insignia, as discussed in this thread; http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/335807-eagle.html
I would guess it to be the 1832-1851 pattern, but I'm not an an expert on these. There are a couple of helpful links in the thread above that may help, or someone may be along shortly with fuller knowledge about these.

But, hey, I'm just 20 minutes down the road if you ever want company in your dirt diggin' adventures!

Silver Searcher · May 6, 2013

It looks like a clock finial/mount, I have one....can you post a picture of the back :icon_thumright:

SS

CoilyGirl · May 6, 2013

Could it be the top of a flag?

nhbenz · May 6, 2013

Taking a second (closer) look I now realize that what I thought was part of a shield is actually one of the eagle's knees. :tongue3:

But, being thin, as mentioned, I'm not sure it would be well suited to be a finial for a clock or flag. As always, I may be wrong.

CoilyGirl · May 7, 2013

nhbenz said:
Taking a second (closer) look I now realize that what I thought was part of a shield is actually one of the eagle's knees.
But, being thin, as mentioned, I'm not sure it would be well suited to be a finial for a clock or flag. As always, I may be wrong.

It never hurts to guess though.

hope someone comes along that can help you.

gsxraddict · May 7, 2013

I don't think it's a flag staff finial, being thin brass, I think it's a broken militia hat pin.

But it's not the same design of that exact hat pin, I'm sure it's possible that there were different variants of the eagle.

Post Update: There were different variants, but I could not find one exactly like yours