🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Brooch? Hat pin? Military? Surprise find in junk part of pouch.

[winslow]

This was a nondescript mangled piece of brass found near a creek that got thrown in with all the other junk found that day. Raining today so cleaning up. I used a magnet to confirm non-ferrous and hit it with a file to affirm it was brass before tossing into my brass bucket that eventually gets emptied at the scrapyard. Got curious and used pliers to "unmangle"it. It was symmetric. Took a picture at that point and cleaned it up a bit. Reminds me of a military hat pin but I have no clue. I feel like an idiot that I used a file on it! Picture with quarter is for size comparison only.

 

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[Westward Treks]

I think it's a US Army Warrant Officers insignia. Maybe from around WW2.

 

[Westward Treks]

I think it's a US Army Warrant Officers insignia. Maybe from around WW2.

Cool find indeed.

 

[Nathan W]

Very nice. Love old military relics

 

[DizzyDigger]

Just goes to show ya that ya never know what you're going to find in the dirt...

 

[Retired Sarge]

It's not a US Army Warrant Officer's cap insignia. The WO insignia didn't have flags, see below for the WO cap insignia.

Not even sure if the OPs badge/pin is military at all to my knowledge, at least from what I've seen, it might just be a patriotic badge/pin.

ETA: Looking at the pin more, I see what looks like an eagle head (Can't say eagle as there is only the head), 2 flags which I assume both are US, shield and 2 axes. So leaning towards definitely not being military.

 

[invent4hir]

Neat find and good job saving it. Is there anything left of where the pin mounted in the third pic? If so, post a clear side view pic, as that might help date it.

 

[The Rebel]

Cool find! I don't believe it's military but l believe it was a patriotic pin.

 

[winslow]

Neat find and good job saving it. Is there anything left of where the pin mounted in the third pic? If so, post a clear side view pic, as that might help date it.

Good idea but unfortunately it's pretty smooth where the pins were mounted.

 

[Mackaydon]

Some history: As each state was added to the Union, a new flag was created. If the flag on the right was an actual depiction of a real flag, then the number of stars would indicate the year in which the flag was made. For example, if the OP's flag has 29 stars, that would represent the flag created when Iowa entered the Union (1846).
Don in SoCal

 

[winslow]

Some history: As each state was added to the Union, a new flag was created. If the flag on the right was an actual depiction of a real flag, then the number of stars would indicate the year in which the flag was made. For example, if the OP's flag has 29 stars, that would represent the flag created when Iowa entered the Union (1846).
Don in SoCal

I wish the the number of stars was more clear. One line of stars is somewhat readable .. the 3rd line with 8. If each line has 8 stars it would be a 32 star flag which was active in 1858-1859. I know there was gold rush era activity in the nearby creek so maybe it was made back in those days. Thanks!

 

[Mackaydon]

A broad estimate of the date is by the number of flags that had only four rows of numbers. Flags 20, 21, 24, 27 and 28 for example; though the image in flag 27 appears the closest.
Don

 

[winslow]

A broad estimate of the date is by the number of flags that had only four rows of numbers. Flags 20, 21, 24, 27 and 28 for example; though the image in flag 27 appears the closest.
Don

Excellent point on the rows. The latest US flag with 4 rows was flown in 1847-1848. Kind of ties in with being close to gold rush era.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Is that an eagle's head or something else.....? The more I look at, the more I think it's not an eagle's head.

 

[winslow]

Is that an eagle's head or something else.....? The more I look at, the more I think it's not an eagle's head.

I assume it's an eagles head. Does look kind of different though. More like a turkey head. Ha!

 

[Retired Sarge]

I assume it's an eagles head. Does look kind of different though. More like a turkey head. Ha!

Or a parrot head......

 

[WoodnHead]

I think the symbol on top is a Phrygian cap, or Liberty cap, a symbol of freedom.

 

[Retired Sarge]

I think the symbol on top is a Phrygian cap, or Liberty cap, a symbol of freedom.
View attachment 2197794View attachment 2197795

Interesting idea.

I was leaning towards a cap of sorts due to the axes, thinking loggers, and a stocking cap of sorts.

But the axes look more like battle axes than logging axes. So threw the cap thought out of my mind.

 

[invent4hir]

Although I'm not sure about the ID, the ruts on the reverse side makes me wonder if this was cast at home or in a small shop. Regardless, this is such a neat pin - glad you decided to unmangled it.