Large Cent and a Potential Belt Plate. Help With Possible ID?

Evolution

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Upstate NY
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Whites DFX (with 4x6 shooter DD coil and 12" spider coil), Minelab Rocco 2700. (E-Trac)
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All Treasure Hunting
Got out yesterday with my buddy Tony for a little foundation jumping. The first two foundations we hit were right off the main road and consequently they were both hit pretty hard. Didn't really find much there. The next place we had lined up was a foundation at the back of a friend's property. We had to walk through the property on an old colonial road. We detected the road but nothing of any interest came up. We arrived at the foundation after a 15 to 20 minute walk. There were a lot of high tone signals so we started to think maybe this hasn't been detected before. A couple buttons and some silverware pieces turned up. One of the buttons was a nice convex silver plated one. (missing shank).
The first pic is of my last find of the day. We were both surprised that a coin hadn't been found yet. made a 10 dollar bet for first coin and went back at it for a while. I picked up a perfect unwavering 12-46 signal on the E-Trac and was counting the money before I dug the hole. Popped out a matron head LC. Looks to be an 1829 with some detail left on it.

003.webp 004.webp 005.webp

One of my earlier finds was shaped like a belt plate. It has that obvious oval shape but it was missing a piece. When I turned it over you can definitely see where the hooks were attached to it. That's why I was thinking some type of plate. There doesn't seem to be anything on it at all. Looks to be completely blank. Any ideas about possible ID of this object are appreciated.

002.webp 001.webp
012.webp 013.webp

Here's a few more pics of the finds of the day.

007.webp008.webp 009.webp

010.webp 011.webp

Thanks for looking and thanks in advance for any help with the ID of the unknown object.
 

Upvote 14
Can't help with the plate, but really appreciate a look at those finds. Thanks for sharing!
 

You definitely have a plate there, War of 1812 I believe. Can check my plate book when I get home.
 

$10 large cent right there. Nice find.
 

Really curious about the plate. Certainly a plate and I hope Steve finds it. I'd love to find one some day
 

You definitely have a plate there, War of 1812 I believe. Can check my plate book when I get home.
Thanks Steve. I appreciate it. I couldn't see it being something other than a plate but this is the first one I've found so I'm learning as I go.
 

Thanks for the reply Abe. This is my first one. I was excited when I found it because the size and shape were unmistakable and immediately had me thinking belt plate.
 

quite a hunt. I think Steve might have nailed it. Looks like it might be a shoulder plate? Nice LC too.
 

Nice!!!!! hard to tell if its a box or belt plate without attachments, my guess would be box plate
 

I believe your plate is a shoulder belt plate. This is the best reference book for US Plates. Unfortunately I didn't have time to look through it thoroughly, but I snapped this picture of a likely possibility for your plate. There are several oval plain face shoulder belt plates in this book.
IMG_20160520_065740202_HDR.webpIMG_20160520_070004746.webp
 

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Great find Evolution!
 

What's not to luv about Upper NY State history .Quick reference may have got it ,
WTG Steve , 1808 militia bayonet belt plate.
Great hunting ....
 

Always Sweet finding big coppers and looks like you have a pretty old belt plate, Sweet!!
 

Great find! I can't help much other to say that in my conversations with a major collector years ago he said you can determine quite a bit by the diameter... whether It's British or American, and the period. Mine is a smaller size and he said British, and probably post 1812. At least that's what's in my brain... was a decade ago I talked to him about this.
 

Let me play the devil's advocate and say that I clearly see the ridge detail of the letter "S" on the front right side of the plate. It is stamped horizontally and therefore may be a well worn or buffed down US belt plate, meant to be worn horizontally and not vertically. If I am way out of line here, then I will shut my little mouth. Sub 8-)
 

Let me play the devil's advocate and say that I clearly see the ridge detail of the letter "S" on the front right side of the plate. It is stamped horizontally and therefore may be a well worn or buffed down US belt plate, meant to be worn horizontally and not vertically. If I am way out of line here, then I will shut my little mouth. Sub 8-)
It doesn't have the proper rim on the face to be a US box or belt plate, and it does not have a lead filled back like CW era US belt or box plate would.
 

Good finds,Congrats on the 10 dollar bonus.
 

I believe your plate is a shoulder belt plate. This is the best reference book for US Plates. Unfortunately I didn't have time to look through it thoroughly, but I snapped this picture of a likely possibility for your plate. There are several oval plain face shoulder belt plates in this book.
View attachment 1315289View attachment 1315291
Thanks for looking that up Steve. Greatly appreciated. :notworthy:
 

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