Stunning Maine Militia Button (1820-1840) and Brass Miniature Cannon

Ahab8

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Messages
8,408
Reaction score
8,289
Golden Thread
2
Location
Topsham, Maine
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Teknetics T2 SE w/15' SEF Coil/ Minelab GPX 4500/2 Garrett Pro Pointers/3 Sets Killer B Headphones/ Koss Headphones/ Detekniy Wireless headphone Adapter
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Time has been limited this spring with more work than we can handle. The commercial construction industry is booming to say the least. I worked Memorial Day and decided I was taking yesterday off. I paddled out to an island that has treated me well in the past. I only had a few hours due to some very inclement weather forecasted for the afternoon. There's a colonial cellar hole in the center of the island which was either occupied for much longer than I thought or it was abandoned then reoccupied later. This day gave me 2 bucket listers. The first being a Maine Militia button dating from 1820-1840. When I first dug it I was thinking it may be civilian. But it was heavily gilted and I could clearly see a back mark. Then I remembered the 5 point design of the early Maine Militia button. A little lemon juice and I was shocked at the condition. Blown away by this button. The other good find is one that I am over the moon with. I've always wanted to dig a miniature brass cannon. I've always thought these were awesome. I admittedly am not positive of the history of these and what they date to. Any info is appreciated. I have found everything from big dandy buttons to pewter spoon handles to mid 1800s finds. So this cannon could date any time in there.
Another interesting find is this giant brass spike. My guess is for ship building. I've never seen one close to this size. It's massive. I'm excited to get back to this site as it's got a massive concentration of iron. There's going to be a ton of good finds masked by the iron. I will be using my magnet to remove lots of nails then snagging the goods below.
The last and most important part of this post is a picture of some incredible iron that my very good buddy OutdoorAdv processed for me. Brad is not only incredibly talented with detecting, sifting and preservation....he is also an awesome and generous friend. Thank you buddy for processing these pieces.
The fork is a favorite of mine. It's the only one that I've found. Bone handle I believe. One of the other favorites is the iron grapeshot that I found on a Rev War site. There's also a mystery in there. I thought for sure it was some sort of hatchet or belt axe when I dug it. Now I'm thinking it's not. But I have no idea what it could be. Thanks for looking guys and I apologize that I've been too busy to Che k out all of your great finds. I'll try to do better. Hunting for a mid 1600s site tomorrow. Prob strike out but you never know.
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496451703.807156.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496451724.882477.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496451756.578465.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496451787.265180.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496451814.395732.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496451838.444790.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496451866.274415.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496451927.560684.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496451978.925289.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496452006.820338.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496452028.515767.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496452054.609515.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496452077.370198.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496452099.255972.webp
 

Upvote 51
You have found Treasure Island for sure mate. Those are some crazy cool finds with the gorgeous Militia button and toy cannon. That huge brass spike is cool as heck too. Lots of wonderful relics and a few banner worthy finds. You certainly made up for lost time.:icon_salut:

Thank you Kurios. Some of my best finds have come from islands. I love that big spike as well.
 

that be a month of diggum up for most :icon_thumleft::icon_thumright:

Ha thanks buddy. Some days are great and some are just a stress reliever in the dirt. Good luck out there
 

Does you brass Cannon have a touch hole? Like the typical working ones?
They first started making working toy examples in the 17th C, became popular in the 18th C. But didn't really stop making them until the early 20th C. However, most of the later ones were not working models.
Yours might be 18th C but its not consistent with most of the other known model types I have seen, including the published examples in my book.
 

Does you brass Cannon have a touch hole? Like the typical working ones?
They first started making working toy examples in the 17th C, became popular in the 18th C. But didn't really stop making them until the early 20th C. However, most of the later ones were not working models.
Yours might be 18th C but its not consistent with most of the other known model types I have seen, including the published examples in my book.

Thanks Cru. Yes it has an actual touch hole. It also looks like it has something iron on the barrel as there's a hard piece of rust in there
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496480397.718129.webp
ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1496480426.746750.webp
 

Thanks Cru. Yes it has an actual touch hole. It also looks like it has something iron on the barrel as there's a hard piece of rust in there
View attachment 1458116
View attachment 1458117
Now I'm more confused, never heard or seen one with the touch hole on the end instead of the top. Very strange. No idea how to date that, see the link I just put up, thats how most typical 18th C ones look.
 

Now I'm more confused, never heard or seen one with the touch hole on the end instead of the top. Very strange. No idea how to date that, see the link I just put up, thats how most typical 18th C ones look.

Hmmm just checked it out. It's tough because the finds date from late 1700s-mid 1800s. I guess I'll need to do a little research to nail this one down. I knew you had found a few and figured it may fall in line with one of those. Any good books on these?
 

Last edited:
Great recovery on the button and the awesome cannon. They are so cool and many different sizes, some being so small it makes me wonder how they actually worked. I still remember fondly the one I dug up almost 10 yrs ago, it's one of those special finds.
Looking at the piece of rust in the end of the barrel makes me wonder if somebody had shoved a projectile in and it got stuck, or it was a way of disabling the cannon from firing.
Either way you had a great hunt, and the site must hold more period treasures that await your arrival.
 

Great recovery on the button and the awesome cannon. They are so cool and many different sizes, some being so small it makes me wonder how they actually worked. I still remember fondly the one I dug up almost 10 yrs ago, it's one of those special finds.
Looking at the piece of rust in the end of the barrel makes me wonder if somebody had shoved a projectile in and it got stuck, or it was a way of disabling the cannon from firing.
Either way you had a great hunt, and the site must hold more period treasures that await your arrival.

Thanks Pep. Love to see your cannon. I was thinking the same thing about the iron in the barrel.
 

Awesome Relic hunt, as always! :notworthy: :notworthy:
 

Abe, nice to see you again! What a fine hunt you had. Congrats on all of these awesome items. -Lisa & John
 

Very cool design on that Maine button.
Congrats
 

The gods were smiling on you. Can't believe how nice that button came out. Good luck with your 1600's hunt. Think positive
 

Great job 'Ahab8'
The button is 'SUPER SWEET'. It cleaned up amazingly well.

Cannon? COOL ! I don't know much about these but an early ? I had was "Did they actually Fire" Well Got my answer.

Yr other button is nice also, & ECH Did Great work on yr Iron pieces . :icon_thumleft:

I look forward to future Finds of yours & for Work 'Construction' Take it while you can get it.

You know how it was in 08 -2013. They are building a-lot down here also.
Peace
Davers
 

Last edited:
Thanks Pep. Love to see your cannon. I was thinking the same thing about the iron in the barrel.

fullsizeoutput_ca.webp
Mine is smaller than yours, 1 1/2" long. :)
 

Beautiful cannon. Great day.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom