1850’s buckle?

[Zactive]

After years of watching you all dig up treasures I finally bought myself a metal detector. During my first day out (last week) I dug up this beauty. I feel so blessed to have found a piece of history. Initially I thought it was civil war related. I’ve since learned that this tongue and wreath buckle is possibly an 1850’s miners buckle cast in San Francisco and is missing the other half. This was located in Northern California. I’ve also learned that I should not have cleaned it with a buffing wheel. I was just so excited. Any idea how much it might be worth in this condition?

 

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[CRUSADER]

Welcome to Tnet.
I thought ouch as I saw this, although I won't have done that, some may like it, just not the purist collector. If you're keeping it, it does still have a 'look' to it, kind of improved the details.

No idea on value, so I'll standby & wait....

 

[iAmMike]

Welcome! Pretty cool find no matter the age.

 

[pepperj]

Welcome to the forum
It's your buckle and you can do whatever pleases your own eyes.
It's a great looking recovery, congrats.

 

[JohnnyMac]

Welcome to the forum
It's your buckle and you can do whatever pleases your own eyes.
It's a great looking recovery, congrats.

Great find. It's yours. I learned a long time ago that my collection is my collection. I'll clean them as I wish fore I will be dead before my finds move on. Who knows where they will wind up? My wife will probably trash the the twisted metal that I hold dear (bale seals ect..). Enjoy it.

 

[river roamer]

Nice find Congrats

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Congrats on a great find !

It's up to the finder if they want to clean a piece they found or not.
But cleaning some coins, tokens and relics is not always a good idea.
You just can't unclean something.

Good Hunting !

 

[Tpmetal]

Very nice buckle! shame it was cleaned, but as others have said it all depends on if you are keeping it for yourself or trying to sell it. I used to be pretty hardcore about the mentality of minimal cleaning on objects, but I have come to accept people will do what they feel is right for them at the end of the day. I would go back to that spot and see if you can find the other half though!

 

[Digger RJ]

View attachment 2064889
After years of watching you all dig up treasures I finally bought myself a metal detector. During my first day out (last week) I dug up this beauty. I feel so blessed to have found a piece of history. Initially I thought it was civil war related. I’ve since learned that this tongue and wreath buckle is possibly an 1850’s miners buckle cast in San Francisco and is missing the other half. This was located in Northern California. I’ve also learned that I should not have cleaned it with a buffing wheel. I was just so excited. Any idea how much it might be worth in this condition?

Very Cool!!!! Congrats!!!!

 

[Digger RJ]

View attachment 2064889
After years of watching you all dig up treasures I finally bought myself a metal detector. During my first day out (last week) I dug up this beauty. I feel so blessed to have found a piece of history. Initially I thought it was civil war related. I’ve since learned that this tongue and wreath buckle is possibly an 1850’s miners buckle cast in San Francisco and is missing the other half. This was located in Northern California. I’ve also learned that I should not have cleaned it with a buffing wheel. I was just so excited. Any idea how much it might be worth in this condition?

Welcome to Tnet!!

 

[oldmxrat]

Welcome to Tnet and congrats on a very cool find!
(And yeah, I would have probably cleaned it also.)

 

[HIGHSTRUNG]

Welcome aboard and congrats on the find!