Indian trade rings and tinkling cones and more 1812 era buttons

I spent last week up at my cottage somewhere in northern Michigan and detected quite a bit. I did not go to any of the military sites that I have done so well at in the past but instead explored some new areas and had some success. I ended up with 3 trade rings and 3 tinkling cones and 6 more buttons.

The first trade ring I put on my finger to "keep it safe" as I went back to my cottage...well that was not a good idea as it snapped in 2 places!

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5 of the buttons came at one site. I found 4 Eagle on Cannon Corps cuff buttons and then a new one for me. It is a Eagle on "US" Infantry cuff button. It is pewter with an iron shank and dates I think from 1812-1815. It is #45AV on page 24 in the Alberts book.

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I also found a general service button. I looked it up in the Alberts book as well and I think it is #94 on page 40. Sometimes the Alberts book gives dates but for these buttons it does not give any date or date range...so mine is likely prior to the civil war but perhaps not.
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Thanks for looking! Jared

Wow , quite a post ! I never new trade rings or tinkling cones even existed .
I looked up the cones and now I know what they are .I printed this description for anyone else who doesn't know .

One of the produced goods that were produced and traded at the fort were tinkling cones, “decorative objects formed into a cone shape with an open apex by rolling a flat trapezoidal or square metal blank” [5]. These tinkling cones were often produced from old kettles, a way of recycling the materials in order to get a new life in the trade.

A very cool assortment of military badges there . Great photo shots ,were they all taken outdoors ?

Oh wow! I am SO envious of that site! Congrats on another great haul of goodies.

Great finds , that area had a huge military presence that lasted for quite a while .

Congratulations on these extraordinary great finds. I registered here to see something like this! In one round you found more military buttons from 1812 than I found in my whole life. Can you tell if it was a camp site? Is the place of finding a field or a forest?

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Originally Posted by Menzl

Congratulations on these extraordinary great finds. I registered here to see something like this! In one round you found more military buttons from 1812 than I found in my whole life. Can you tell if it was a camp site? Is the place of finding a field or a forest?

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Thanks Menzl! There is a well known military fort nearby. This fort dates back to the mid 1700's I think and was occupied by the French originally, then England and then the US. There was also a lot of Native American Indian activity in the area that dates back much earlier. The spots that I have been successful at are areas where the occupants of the fort would go to get supplies like timber, brick and food. I have had success at a Fur Traders Post, a couple saw pits (places where timber was harvested and cut into planks) and other various spots that are near my cottage in Northern Michigan. Some of these places are noted on old maps while other spots I (or others who shared them with me) found by exploring. This fort is Fort Mackinac. I wish I could detect the island that this fort is on...there are probably truck loads of relics there! ...but it is a National Park so you can't dig anything.

Awesome! I think those 1812 era flat buttons are the best looking US military buttons. Those trade goods are too cool.

Very interesting. Thank you for the narration. I can imagine it very well. Somehow images of the famous movie: "The Last of the Mohicans" appear in my head. :grin:But in your area also were Hurons or? Congratulations again on the finds.

Some impressive relics, thx for posting. I have found a few Indian relics but nothing like that. Great recoveries. WD

Fantastic finds!

Screw it Bucknut, I will meet you at Mackinaw at 9PM next weekend to hunt the island. Just Kidding!!!! I hear you about detecting that area. That would be an incredible hunt to do. I bet that whole island is full of relics, coins etc.

By the way, great finds again.

Dang it. I was in Michigan last week. Congrats on those amazing finds.

the next time you get up there Bucknut you'll have to find me a yooperlite

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Originally Posted by del

the next time you get up there Bucknut you'll have to find me a yooperlite

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I have never looked for them but I know of people who do find them. Just need a black light. I do find pudding stones and Petoskey stones regularly.

Another solid round of detecting Jared! Those tinkling cones and trade rings have a good probability of being somewhat older than the buttons. At least, that's what folks around here say in New England. Not sure about N. Mich.

John