Mildly Distressed Union Eagle Breast Plate

Yak1366

Bronze Member
Oct 22, 2017
1,293
2,307
Ringgold, Georgia
Detector(s) used
Equinox 800, Garrett ATPro, ProPointer AT, Retriever II
Primary Interest:
Other
Well I guess it depends on your definition of distressed. When I found out what this was, I was more ticked off than anything. But I guess you get em as you get em...

So yesterday I dug this piece, that on first glance, looked like just a crumpled mason jar lid, or the like, when it was in the hole. I thought I saw some kind of design, but I resist cleaning anything in the field for fear of damaging a find.

Olive Branch Side as Dug.jpg
Arrow Side as Dug.jpg

So I get home, run it thru the ultrasonic cleaner, and a clutch of 3 arrows jumps out!

Arrow Side.jpg
Olive Branch Side.jpg

Researching this morning, I'm quite confident it's a Union Eagle Breast Plate. However, it took me a while to find a design match. The shapes of the Arrowheads, Shaft Feathers, Olive Branch Leaves, etc, seem to vary greatly from plate to plate.

This image found on this link, matches all the features mentioned above.
https://picclick.com/Civil-War-Eagle-Breast-Plate-Dug-Manassas-323399992002.html
Civil-War-Eagle-Breast-Plate-Dug-Manassas.jpg

I hope someone with the proper references can assist me in dating this Breast Plate version.

Thanks for looking, HH & Merry Xmas to all!!!
 

Upvote 28

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
20,684
40,651
Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
10
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus II
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
There is a guy who can restore it. If you want I'll see if I can find his name. Nice find, they are now hard to get in any condition.
 

Rookster

Gold Member
Nov 24, 2013
29,382
111,597
Detector(s) used
XP Deus, F75Ltd., AT PRO, Garrett pointer
Primary Interest:
Cache Hunting
Great find.:icon_thumright:
 

dirtlooter

Gold Member
Jun 5, 2014
8,889
13,497
mid western ARK
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
3
Detector(s) used
XP Deus with 9"LF and 9" HF Coils and 600 Equinox with stock and 6" coils
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
yeah, you gotta really be careful with some of that "trashy looking stuff." glad you caught it, awesome save
 

UnderMiner

Silver Member
Jul 27, 2014
3,769
9,597
New York City
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Minelab Excalibur II, Ace 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
This is going to take some careful work to unfold. I love artifacts that are still identifiable despite damage, and the historic significance is still the same even in this form :icon_thumright:
 

Brendan75

Bronze Member
Aug 21, 2017
1,118
2,591
Pretoria
Detector(s) used
Equinox 800/ Garrett AT pro/ Minelab X- terra 305/ Garrett Ace 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Hi, nice find. Congrats:icon_thumleft:
 

creskol

Gold Member
Jan 14, 2007
13,619
22,657
🥇 Banner finds
2
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
5
Primary Interest:
Other
Those are really neat finds. I think I would be tempted to display them 'as is' just for their uniqueness and curiosity properties!
 

Trezurehunter

Gold Member
Mar 22, 2003
17,860
21,408
Illinois / Oklahoma
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
8
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 800 - Fisher CZ 5
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Good thing you didnt pitch it ! Since I have never found one, I would take that one in a heart beat ! I still think its a great piece of history.
 

civilman1

Gold Member
Nov 29, 2005
9,386
1,685
PA-MD
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Garrett Infinium LS,White's MXT's and Surf II Lot's-O-Coil's
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
I'm with Creskol on this,just leave "as is". Great save there Yak :thumbsup:
 

OP
OP
Yak1366

Yak1366

Bronze Member
Oct 22, 2017
1,293
2,307
Ringgold, Georgia
Detector(s) used
Equinox 800, Garrett ATPro, ProPointer AT, Retriever II
Primary Interest:
Other
Thanks Smokey for the contact info! And thank you all for the kind responses!

I will take some time and debate on what I'm going to do with it.

Can someone tell me what book I would need to properly identify & date this piece?
 

A2coins

Gold Member
Dec 20, 2015
33,807
42,606
Ann Arbor
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
3
Detector(s) used
Equinox 800
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I agree with everyone amazing relic whatever you decide it will be good Well done Happy Holidays
 

Davers

Gold Member
Jan 8, 2013
8,127
7,147
N.of , I-285...GA
Detector(s) used
Whites Spc xlt & Tesoro Tejon- Now back ...Fisher 1266-X. TRX Pointer. New .Teknetics G2 + . New AT Pro .
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Thanks Smokey for the contact info! And thank you all for the kind responses!

I will take some time and debate on what I'm going to do with it.

Can someone tell me what book I would need to properly identify & date this piece?

I love that title.

A Book or any book by Steve Mullinamax , He is local (kinda) & forgive me if I misspelled his name .

I looked through my small library & found that I had a 'Repo' Plate book but it has pic's of originals 'only 1 of a Breast Plate'
'Said Cir 1840 ' I suppose the Union used this style before & through the War.

Have a good rainy day.
 

Oct 5, 2014
31,886
35,424
Massachusetts
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Garrett: AT Pro, AT Gold & Infinium; Minelab: Explorer SE, II; Simplex; Tesoro: Tejon & Outlaw; White's: V3i
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Nice find! :occasion14:

If you can, have it professionally restored! :icon_thumleft:
 

bearbqd

Bronze Member
Jun 20, 2007
1,094
624
Shenandoah Valley
Detector(s) used
Minelab EXP II w/ Sunray X-1 probe, Garrett AT Pro/Propointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Wow, what happened to that poor thing? Cool find regardless though.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top