NY Militia/CW Belt Plate!

[BTV Digger]

Saw they'd cut a hay field I have permission for and had yet to hit this spring. Farmer said it had been heavily metal detected through the years and true to form there were only limited targets. I did pull a nice ornate coat button with a flower pattern, then got a screamer at 8 inches that I almost didn't dig (thought it was another can). Nope. New York militia/Civil War belt plate baby! I still can't believe it. At least I think it's CW - experts please chime in. Thanks for looking.

John

[Lodge Scent]

What a nice looking plate you got there John. Congrats!

[Full Metal Digger]

Simply beautiful plate! I would get that restored in a heartbeat! Congrats on finding such a great relic where others have failed. HH, Dave.

[Digger_O'Dell]

Wow John, awesome find! It's also frosting on the cake to pull something like that from someplace that's been hunted to death already. Makes you wonder how the heck did they miss it?

[Cheap Thrills]

[fyrffytr1]

Beautiful belt plate! Please post a picture of the back. I think it is earlier than the civil war but could have seen action in the war. That plate was manufactured around 1850. It should be about 2.2X3.1 inches and weigh about 1 1/2 ounces.

[Donnie B]

Beautiful Plate! Congratulations! I could look it up in my book. Can I see a photo of the back?

[rharris]

Holy Moly! Or something like that! Awesome job. Congrats!

[BTV Digger]

Thanks a lot guys! Here's a shot of the reverse. Should have included it from the start.

[del]

What a spectacular belt plate John you couldn't ask for better patina coloration !! The plate is a New York Militia from 1850 to 1860 (definitely Civil War era ) The design is a rendition of the 1777 New York coat of arms with Liberty and justice supporting a shield containing a sunrise over the Hudson river. Its rays blanket the entire background while an eagle crest is perched on a globe overhead. The banner of the state's motto "Excelsior" is draped around the lower part of the shield .

Great find John !

Dan

[Tony Two-Cent]

What a wonderful piece of history! That metal held up really well in the soil. Way to find an amazing relic that everyone else missed!

[chief5709]

[OxShoeDrew]

Can't beat that!! Wonderful, John!!

[BTV Digger]

What a spectacular belt plate John you couldn't ask for better patina coloration !! The plate is a New York Militia from 1850 to 1860 (definitely Civil War era ) The design is a rendition of the 1777 New York coat of arms with Liberty and justice supporting a shield containing a sunrise over the Hudson river. Its rays blanket the entire background while an eagle crest is perched on a globe overhead. The banner of the state's motto "Excelsior" is draped around the lower part of the shield .

Great find John !

Dan

Thanks for such detailed information Dan! I knew you'd have more background info.

What a wonderful piece of history! That metal held up really well in the soil. Way to find an amazing relic that everyone else missed!

Thanks Tony! Yeah, all I did was to use a fine wire brush with warm water and it came out looking about as good as I could hope for. As you can see there's a big plow blade slash in it, but I like it just the way it is.

Thanks Brian!

Can't beat that!! Wonderful, John!!

Nope. That's my find of the year Drew. Thanks!

[Noah]

I would restore it and then be very tempted to actually wear it. It would look very cool with a worn out pair of Bluejeans.

[Digger Don]

What a beautiful piece of American history!! I kinda like it the way it is. Adds character!

[aloldstuff]

WOW what a find. John you did real good digging that one. Really consider getting it restored.

[DavidGC]

John -You are killing' it this year! Congrats.
If everyone who was in that field missed something that big, I bet there's other stuff still waiting to be found.

[calabash digger]

that is a great find!

[BTV Digger]

I would restore it and then be very tempted to actually wear it. It would look very cool with a worn out pair of Bluejeans.

Ha ha. Interesting thought! I think I'm gonna leave it as is though.

What a beautiful piece of American history!! I kinda like it the way it is. Adds character!

Thanks Don! I still can't believe I dug it. Almost doesn't seem real...sorta like some of those big silvers you've been digging.

WOW what a find. John you did real good digging that one. Really consider getting it restored.

Thanks Al! Yeah, I'm not sure I'll get it restored. I sorta like it just the way it is with the plow cut and all.

John -You are killing' it this year! Congrats.
If everyone who was in that field missed something that big, I bet there's other stuff still waiting to be found.

Thanks David! The field has been metal detected by a guy multiple times so says the farmer. There actually weren't many good targets there, though lots of iron. The signal sounded like a deep can but as I came off the target the sound didn't give that customary squelch that a can does...it was more clean. That convinced me just enough to give it a shot and dig. So glad I did.

that is a great find!

Thanks Calabash!