Tater patch finds

LaGold · Feb 16, 2013

Well I made another short trip to the tater patch again today. It's been good to me each trip so far. Today I had two finds that I was happy with. Another civil war button and I also found what I think was half a heart locket. Tell me what ya think about these guys. Oh yeah the button says cadet on it too

G.A.P.metal · Feb 16, 2013

Nice cameo locket

LaGold · Feb 16, 2013

I was glad to find the button but the locket was a surprise when it popped out

kuger · Feb 16, 2013

I beleive that button may be a "Good",one.....rare?Might want to PM Cannonballguy and ask him

woody_g · Feb 16, 2013

kuger said:
I beleive that button may be a "Good",one.....rare?Might want to PM Cannonballguy and ask him

i am with kuger anything that has cadet on it is probably a good one

wheatfinder13 · Feb 16, 2013

Cool heart

TheCannonballGuy · Feb 17, 2013

LaGold sent me a PM, asking me to identify the button.

It is the front of a 3-piece KMI (Kentucky Military Institute) Cadet button. The initials KMI are on its front, below the eagle. A non-excavated complete one is shown in the Albert button-book in the Schools-&-Universities section as button SU-193. That version of KMI button dates from slightly before the civil war through several decades afterward. Due to LaGold's find lacking its back, it cannot be accurately dated to a particular point within that wide timerange. However, if civil war Military relics have been dug very-nearby, it is probably civil war era.

About its rarity:
Civil war ones are scarce, but no longer considered super-rare, because about 25 years ago some diggers got onto the KMI campus and dug hundreds of them, with backmarks from both before and after the civil war. Yours is still a rare one, because it did not come from the KMI campus.

LaGold · Feb 17, 2013

Cw artifacts are found all around my area. There are 3 cw forts within 15-20 miles radius from the place which I found the button. Thanks for the info it was greatly appreciated.