🥇 BANNER NC Civil War Officer buckle - My best find EVER!!!!

ModernMiner · Apr 3, 2009

Folks, I'm still in shock and overjoyed! After work today I thought I'd get in a few hours of detecting since it was so nice out. I headed back to one of the yards I've been detecting, but never really gridded off thoroughly. Within about 20 minutes I had a strong signal in the front yard. I knew it was fairly big so I cut a decent sized plug. At about 5" deep, I reached in and pulled out one h-ll of a nice CW relic. I saw the "NC on the buckle right away and knew I had one piece of a two piece CW buckle. It is in fantastic condition too. I searched around a bit for the other half, but nothing yet. I will be back though, believe me.
When I got home, I looked it up in my CW relic book which stated that it is a "very rare" buckle.

Does anyone know the value of this NC buckle? I'm still in shock.

What type of soldier would have worn a buckle like this?

Now here's two other tidbits that make this find more exciting:
*I found it in an open area that DD-777 and Mirage had hit a few weeks back. I can't believe they missed it, but I'm truly thankful. :thumbsup:

It must have been my Mighty Tesoro Umax.

*I found it next door to the yard I dug the CW "CSN" button awhile back.
Perhaps an officer lived here?

My other finds were:

* 1897 IH
*1964 Rosie
*Suspender clip (?) with stars & a design on it.
*Two wheats (45 & 52)
*Antique pocket watch.

A fantastic day indeed for Modern Miner.
Thanks for looking,
MM

P.S. YA-Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lovedigging · Apr 4, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

MM, Great find and I'm sure you are still on cloud nine :thumbsup:

PBK · Apr 4, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

PA · Apr 4, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

hi modernminer,

wow that belt buckle is wonderful. i would stil be on cloud 10 if there is one.

i hope you get the other half modernminer.

henry

hogge · Apr 4, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

Congratulations on, what WILL be, one of the BEST OF 2009! Now find the other half!!!!! :thumbsup:

The Hogge

hunter945 · Apr 4, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

Nice Finds.

Mirage · Apr 4, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

Pretty sweet Doug. But you know what this means - you ain't got a chance now to get that 1/2 real. :wink:

ModernMiner said:
*I found it in an open area that DD-777 and Mirage had hit a few weeks back. I can't believe they missed it, but I'm truly thankful.
It must have been my Mighty Tesoro Umax.

We only had about a half hour to 45 minutes max at that site. 5 minutes more and it would have been mine!

That's why I come down to hunt at your sites....I'm no dummy. :tongue3:

Bob

Tnmountains · Apr 4, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

You gotta love hunting on a nice manicured lawn. Nothing better.
Congratulations on a wonderful find.

TnMountains

ModernMiner · Apr 4, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

VOL1266-X said:
MM, at your request I talked to a Professional Relic Dealer today about your find. He thinks that the NC tongue would be in the $4,000 neighborhood and could go higher. . I made a good guess last night huh? That's a good neighborhood to be in. He says it is rare to dig the tongue part. RARE FIND indeed. WTG and congrats on your 2nd Banner this year!!!

VOL,
I can't thank you enough for all the help you've given me on my CSN button, and now this NC buckle. Also the guidance on writing a story for W & ET "Best Finds".
These last few months have been amazing for me, and I would have never guessed that either of these last two CW finds could be found in yards.
When you told me this buckle was worth $4000 last night, as you know, I about soiled myself.

When I saw "very rare" in the CW relics book I had no idea.
Thanks so much for contacting your resources on the value and rarity of this piece.
I did go back to look for the other half today, but no luck yet.

I'll keep looking and hoping though. With or without the other half, I'm very glad I found the "NC" part. :thumbsup:

creeper71 said:
VOL1266-X said:

MM, at your request I talked to a Professional Relic Dealer today about your find. He thinks that the NC tongue would be in the $4,000 neighborhood and could go higher. . I made a good guess last night huh? That's a good neighborhood to be in. He says it is rare to dig the tongue part. RARE FIND indeed. WTG and congrats on your 2nd Banner this year!!!

Click to expand...

Sorry MM for quoting the wrong price.....

Creeper,
No problem at all. Your $1000 guess was way higher than I would ever have imagined anyways.

I'm just super happy to know that this was a piece owned & worn by an officer in the CW.

-MM-

ModernMiner · Apr 4, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

***I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE REPLIES AND ENCOURAGEMENT***

I SWEAR I WILL GET CAUGHT UP ON MY REPLIES TOMORROW.
I'm still in shock.

Thanks to all of you folks,
MM

Mike from MI · Apr 4, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

Awesome find! :thumbsup:

Gilligan · Apr 5, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

Congrats bro, that Silver Umax is paying for itself over and over! Keep it up! Bryan from Goldsboro

ModernMiner · Apr 5, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

BuckleBoy said:
Good LORD, what a find!!
This IS a banner find, Doug.
Man oh man. Did you hunt the yard out yet? Was this in the back yard? (If you tell me "yes," expect a PM from me...)
Even just the tongue part of this one, in such fantastic condition, is a VERY valuable piece.
Unbelievable. Whatever you're doing to romance Lady Luck, please send her my way. Goodness!

Thanks BB.
The buckle was a front yard find, but the button was a back yard find.
I will be searching the whole place, and another connecting lot too.
It would be a dream if I found the other half of this buckle. I think the reason this buckle is in such good shape is because it was found in a yard rather than a plowed field.
-Doug-

ModernMiner · Apr 5, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

Merf said:
Congrats on those great finds MM You are excelling at the sport of dirt fishing and I always enjoy and admire your posts.

Thanks Merf. I love your posts too.
I owe a lot of my success to the amount of time spent out in the field, and the properties I seek out.
-MM-

weasel606 · Apr 5, 2009

WOW Awesome Awesome finds MM ! a very BIG CONGRATS :thumbsup:

ModernMiner · Apr 5, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

Iron Patch said:
Now that is a day maker! Maybe your best find... MAYBE?

Still not being able to get out i have detecting in the brain and can't get anything done these days... and you know what, you ain't helping! (But I forgive you... this time)

Shouldn't have to say Banner on this on, but Banner!

THanks IP.
I modified my title to "my best find ever". When I posted it up I had no idea how rare the buckle was. I can't believe I bumper my own banner off. What a year! :thumbsup:

-MM-

ModernMiner · Apr 5, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

civilman1 said:
Doug you've gone ahead and done it now big guy......Absolutely Beautiful Dig.....I'm smiling ear to ear for you right now,you'd think I found it. Outstanding!!!!!

Thanks Joe. I knew you would love this find. :thumbsup:

-Doug-

ModernMiner · Apr 5, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

brnn53 said:
Incredible! I've only seen one complete NC sword belt tongue and wreath so that is a rare find indeed! Man if you can find the wreath it would complete the find of a lifetime! Very nice recovery and one that us Tar Heels would love to dig! Congrats!!
Mike

Thanks Mike.
It's touch to compete with the CW relic hunters in Virginia, but this one brought one home for our NC team. :thumbsup:

-Doug-

ModernMiner · Apr 5, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

{Sentinel} said:
Dang MM, thats two extra rare brilliant finds in those two yards!!! That CSN button and now the NC two piece.....You should be floating on CLOUD NINE by now!!! What can I say, that is a truly stunning piece!

Thanks Josh.
I would have never expected to find these two pieces, AND the 1864 double die IH in town. I need to bring in a backhoe maybe? :icon_scratch:

-MM-

ModernMiner · Apr 5, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

CRUSADER said:
I guess its congrats to you $1000+

Your on a roll, keep it up

Thanks Crusader.
It isn't Roman, but it's not bad for our area.

I think the $1000 just went up four fold. I'm having it appraised soon.
A great day indeed for me.
Thanks again,
MM

ModernMiner · Apr 5, 2009

Re: NC Civil War belt buckle - My first buckle & maybe my best EVER find!!!!

dfx willy said:
wow im not even going to tell you what to look for. the other ? this is the first time ive seen a whatch out of the ground that still has hands on it. cool i would try to get a date on that one. take the back off if you can. willy.

Willy,
I think you were the only one that caught that. I was amazed the hands were still on the watch too. I'll see if I can find a brand or date on it. This will make a neat addition to my relic display. It's the most complete pocket watch I have ever found.
-MM-