I believe it's Civil War but not sure

[cheech]

Pick this up today at a garage sale I believe it's a medal from the Civil War but not 100% sure any information would be greatly appreciated thank you

 

[nhbenz]

It looks like it could be the better part of a reunion type medal/badge from the G.A.R, a veterans group started after the civil war. But it's not a military issued medal.
And there are many other fraternal organizations that used this type of medal/badge for their gatherings, but without the celluloid center of the bottom piece it may be impossible to tell who used this particular one.
Examples of the celluloid center of various organizations: http://www.google.com/search?sclien...ws..23.5.1144...30i10k1j0i13i30k1.1oQZO03vcPU

 

[fyrffytr1]

I did a search at different websites and couldn't find a Union soldier by that name. At familysearch.org I couldn't find a Fratello much earlier than the late 1800s.

https://familysearch.org/

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Fratello translates to "brother" that's about all I can add other than it's likely pre-1900 I would think....

 

[DCMatt]

Fratello translates to "brother" that's about all I can add other than it's likely pre-1900 I would think....

I'm thinking it's a Victorian era Daguerreotype mourning pin of someone's brother. Why else would a family keep a pin like this? It is not Civil War specific but it could easily be from that time period.

 

[nhbenz]

True, could be.
This also would have had a ribbon hanging from the bar below the clasp.

 

[nhbenz]

I can't make out the detail on the back, but it may match up to this which has an October 18, 1892 patent on it. I don't know if Whitehead & Hoag also had an earlier patent, but it seems that it may date closer to the turn of the century than we might hope.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/205189510/antique-whitehead-hoag-ioof-independent?ref=market

 

[DCMatt]

I can't make out the detail on the back, but it may match up to this which has an October 18, 1892 patent on it. I don't know if Whitehead & Hoag also had an earlier patent, but it seems that it may date closer to the turn of the century than we might hope.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/205189510/antique-whitehead-hoag-ioof-independent?ref=market

It does look like that. Awesome research!

 

[cheech]

Thank you for all the help