IRON Brigade: SEATED HALF DOLLAR and a Complete MUSKET LOCK PLATE!!

BuckleBoy

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Moonlight and Magnolias
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Fisher F75, Whites DualField PI, Fisher 1266-X and Tesoro Silver uMax
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Hello All!

Got up this morning and got a call from HB who was jonesin' for a hunt after his spur and eagle button on Wednesday. Took a look at the truck thermometer and figured it would be a nice day to dig a few holes. :P

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So we set out for the site, bringing the probe so we could open up the privy too. ;D

When we got there, we did some probing for the privy, and indeed hit glass. :) We opened up a hole and started finding busted up china and bits of glass. So the hole got wider....and deeper... (We'd already asked the owner if this was o.k. and gotten the go-ahead on the privy dig.) Here's a photo of DiggerGirl down in there:

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We took turns digging, and picked up our detectors and swung when we weren't working the privy. Here's HB gettin' it dug. ;D

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We soon figured out that we were in a burn pit--we dug down to clay and found only charred items, a brass spoon, a harmonica reed plate, and broken china and stoneware. Few bottles, and not much worth reconstructing. :-\ So we covered 'er in and kept detecting.

My very first signal of the day was a good one. It was an overload--so I knew it was big, or shallow, or both...so I cut a big plug. Well let me say that we dig so few silver coins out here that it takes a second for it to sink in when we find one. What I wasn't prepared for was the SIZE of this one coming out of the ground. I was thinking "Nah--it can't be" when I bent over to get a closer look:

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My first instinct was "Cut Spanish Silver!" as I looked at the find--and when HB asked what I found, I think I said something like just a CUT SPANISH COIN. As I looked at the coin more closely, I realized it said "Half Dollar" on it! :o It is an 1858-O Seated HALF!

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Folks, it's been quite a few years since my last Seated Half find, and I am Thrilled.


We kept pounding the site, finding toe taps, organ reeds, harmonica parts, clock parts, and lantern tops. I dug a wierd, flattened/cut minieball closer to the cellar hole--all the while watching the Iron pile grow by the truck. (I know there's 40 lbs there from the hunt today.)

Then as darkness approaches, HB yells at me from across the site. I can see him holding up something in his hand--and I immediately knew what it was--a complete musket lock plate!

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Folks, I have never seen one of these dug before. I've dug pieces before, but no dice on a complete lock plate. The best part of this one is the condition--with some Slow electrolysis and a little luck, we might be able to read some markings.

Incredible hunt today, but I am Beat to Death. At least I can feel my fingers now. :tard:

So here is a shot of my finds for the day, along with HB's lock plate. If anyone can identify the model of gun this piece is from, please let us know. :thumbsup:

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The finds cleaned, and close-ups of some of the goodies:

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And a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to HB on this one. Good huntin' with you today, buddy. :thumbsup:

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And that's part of the reason we dig all the Iron. :wink:


Best Wishes and Happy Hunting,



Buckleboy
 

Upvote 0
l.cutler said:
I can't seem to find a good picture of #3 online, only #4 which has a flatter hammer. I have a copy of the book "Civil War Guns" by William B. Edwards which has pretty clear pictures of the different varieties.



Scanner or digital camera, if you'd be willing to photograph the page and email it to me... Or perhaps post here, if it is not copyright infringement with a citation of the work in the reply.


Regards,


Buckles
 

I was thinking that the Lock Plate had a unique style,so i was thinking it might be import.I done some research on Belgian muskets and come up with a M-1859 Leige variant in 61 caliber commonly called a Belgian rifle.On the lock plate it shows four screw holes with the one in front of the hammer.I am hoping the pic is attached and we can compare it to the lock plate and see if it's a match.If we agree i will send some interesting literature on the rifle for it's use in the Civil War.I know there are others trying to find matches,so i will wait and see which one best matched.

Just trying to help put History with there Great finds.
Nova Treasure
 

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Wow both of you guys sure cleaned up today! Nice job on the seated half dollar and tell your buddy he dug a very nice musket lock plate! Congratulations! :wav:
 

nova treasure said:
I was thinking that the Lock Plate had a unique style,so i was thinking it might be import.I done some research on Belgium muskets and come up with a M-1859 Leige variant in 61 caliber commonly called a Belgium rifle.On the lock plate it shows four screw holes with the one in front of the hammer.I am hoping the pic is attached and we can compare it to the lock plate and see if it's a match.If we agree i will send some interesting literature on the rifle for it's use in the Civil War.I know there are others trying to find matches,so i will wait and see which one best matched.

Just trying to help put History with there Great finds.
Nova Treasure

Nova I agree with you on the rifle you have found.Wish they had a closer photo of the lock plate.I've been to that same site that you found but no close ups.Still trying to find some more info to go by.The hammer on the one I found looks a little different to me,but it's very close.I appreciate your help on this great find.


HB
 

Nicely done...you got the better half of that half. I found a rare silver today but my stupid camera decided to die on me...
 

civilman1 said:
Congrat's to the Brigade BB on some Beautiful recovery's.....The Plate is Sweet HB.... :thumbsup:
Detectingfreak said:
Wow both of you guys sure cleaned up today! Nice job on the seated half dollar and tell your buddy he dug a very nice musket lock plate! Congratulations! :wav:

Thanks guy's
 

Wow thats a first Ive seen in a long time. Someone was short on change that day. Cool find :thumbsup:
 

HB, the silver half is nice--but no doubt in my mind you got the find of the day. It was a joy to see it dug. And lock plates in that condition don't happen often at all!

I'm going to sand on it just a bit tonight and see if I can see any markings.


-Buck
 

No markings, HB. Smooth as a baby's butt on the outside of the plate. I didn't sand on it much--just enough to tell if anything was stamped in. I'll check again after electrolysis. We'll try to get that done tomorrow, fingers crossed. :)


Hey nova--did the Belgium Rifles have any markings on their lock plates?


-BB
 

Wow, great hunt !!

Keep @ it and HH!!
 

Hey nova--did the Belgium Rifles have any markings on their lock plates?
-BB
[/quote]

Sorry BB,I recieved a pm from HB and wanted to post what i had found on the gun, that i thought was a possibility.
I didn't see any markings,but i will do some more looking,so you may have an area to check.

Nova Treasure
 

Nice hunt!!
I would LOVE to pull a complete Lock Plate out
of the ground! That baby is SHWEEEEET!!!!
 

Excellent post, congrats on the silver and the lock plate!! That silver is beautiful and a great piece of history when they come out cut. You guys have a great site going. I hope that you are able to hit it again before things freeze over too much more.
 

RuledByTheMoon30 said:
KY here I come! nice digs :icon_king:

You live in the Northeast! KY here you come ONLY if we Swap Places! ;D
 

All Liege made guns of the period have an ELG over a star in an oval stamped on them. I have been spending the evening checking every Civil War firearm catalog and book I can find, this is fun! I can still find nothing with the long hammer throw of this lock, which would indicate a nipple far forward of the lock, except the Gwyn and Campbell. Also all of the screw holes line up exactly. While the Belgian has a similar shaped plate, the hammer throw is much shorter, I will stick with my guess, but still just a guess. You may have to post on one of the Civil War gun forums for a definitive answer. Whatever it is it is a great find!
 

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