Copperhead Badge?

[Woodland Detectors]

I am re-posting this due to overwhelming PM's last night referring to the Badge.
It would be nice to figure this out. It's obviously cut to be worn for possibly the Copperhead political organization or other reasons. Thanks for your help...Mike


http://books.google.com/books?id=My...r+copper-head+badge&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Most striking are Ellen's comment regarding "Copperheads," a vocal element in the northern Democratic Party who opposed Lincoln's Republican administration, the abolitionist movement, and ultimately the war itself. The Copperheads drew their name from the three cent copper Indian head coins they wore as badges. In many areas of Pennsylvania, they were a political force to be reckoned with, including in Bucks County.

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

OK. What kind of "cosmetic" purpose would this pertain. Especially in that era knowing the possibilities of affiliation it may interpret.

Good question. We've gotten so caught up in determining what it ISN'T, we have failed to identify what it IS.

Did we determine if it is actually made from a coin or is it a replica? While researching this piece, I found a really neat book published in 1913 called "700 things for a boy to do." One thing was instructions on how to make a stick pin. Guess what they used...

How To Make A Stick Pin
A fine stick pin or button can be made from a new one-cent piece. Carefully file out all the metal around the Indian head and slightly round the edges. Solder a pin to the back of the head when it is to be used for a stick pin. If a collar button base is soldered to the back of the head instead of the pin it can be used for a button. These can be gold plated by a jeweler and then you will have a neat pin or button, or a good emblem for the Order of Redmen.

Maybe yours is just a piece of jewelry... or an Order of Redmen emblem?

DCMatt

Heres the link http://chestofbooks.com/crafts/popu...s-for-Boys-to-Do/How-To-Make-A-Stick-Pin.html
Heres The Boy Mechanic 1913. http://chestofbooks.com/crafts/popu...Mechanic-700-Things-for-Boys-to-Do/index.html

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

It was also in the 1909 Popular Mechanics, page 290. The two publications puts a date to it. Very interesting find Mike and great ID Matt.

http://books.google.com/books?id=H-...=onepage&q=indian head cent stick pin&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=H-...ok_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBkQ6AEwBA#

 

[Woodland Detectors]

What a great thread! Thank you everyone.

I'd say we all learned some great history here.



And guess what? Maybe we revived an old craft project for the Boys side to do at camp!


Is that legal?

 

[BioProfessor]

It has been ruled that you can mutilate your own money as much as you want.

Daryl

 

[72cheyenne]

And guess what? Maybe we revived an old craft project for the Boys side to do at camp!

I think I would use Lincoln cents, 1959-1982, to do this project. Maybe do an Indian Head on occasion. I just can't seem to bring myself to thinking about doing it to a IH or wheatie! Kinda like the coin rings, I think the are the "ultimate" of cool, but you have to ruin a good coin to do it.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think they cut coins with lasers nowadays instead of a hand file. But it may be interesting doing things the old way with old hand tools..

 

[BioProfessor]

I think most of the commercially cut stuff is done with a water jet now - cheaper, faster, better.

Daryl

 

[Woodland Detectors]

I think they cut coins with lasers nowadays instead of a hand file. But it may be interesting doing things the old way with old hand tools..

We're non-profit
It's the old way for us

 

[cccalco]

With the release of the new movie "Copperhead" by Ron Maxwell, the director of "Gettysburg"(1993) and "Gods and Generals" (2003) the terms 'Copperhead' and 'KGC' are terms that will not be unknown to our contemporaries. "Copperhead" is the story of an upstate New York family which comes under fire for their support of the Constitution and opposition to the war.

Here is a link to the movies website, Copperhead - The Movie
and be sure to see the trailer on youtube, "Copperhead" -- Official Trailer - YouTube

 

[hiramjustus]

This is, like, a seriously cool thread.

However, I must say that there was no evidence of absolute uniformity to the KGC or OAK or SoL. In some regions, they changed the name perhaps to keep the organization out of the public gaze. There was a huge amount of independence between the "chapters" depending upon locality, membership, etc. I don't think we can eliminate the use of the IH or large cent or tokens for the purpose. Availability may have played the greatest part in what was used to make the pins. The large cents would have been pretty obvious due to their size, so the IH may have been ideal depending upon the local climate. Tokens seem to me to be very localized items, so there would have been issues of general availability with these. Further, I am thinking that the butternut would have been a general comment of a sort whereas the copperhead pin with its Indian in the head-dress would have been a direct reference to the original Sons of Liberty, like the Red Strings and their referencing the passage in the OT about the harlot Rahab.

Vallandigham's comments about not knowing what word was printed on the badges would seem to indicate that his first-hand observation of the copperhead pins was not the same as the prosecutor's. I don't think we can eliminate even the possibility that they were hand-stamped special for the purpose rather than cut from coins where this could be done...possibly by the same companies that made the store tokens.

I have to admit that I've looked at this question a few times over the years, and this forum has proven far more informative than any sources I've seen in the past. Thanks, guys! Very fun stuff!

 

[hiramjustus]

One source, Stidger, referred to the butternut pin and made no mention of any other insignia. He did most of his damage in the Louisville, Indiana, and Illinois areas. Of course, no mention is not proof in and of itself.

 

[L.C. BAKER]

This is, like, a seriously cool thread.

However, I must say that there was no evidence of absolute uniformity to the KGC or OAK or SoL. In some regions, they changed the name perhaps to keep the organization out of the public gaze. There was a huge amount of independence between the "chapters" depending upon locality, membership, etc. I don't think we can eliminate the use of the IH or large cent or tokens for the purpose. Availability may have played the greatest part in what was used to make the pins. The large cents would have been pretty obvious due to their size, so the IH may have been ideal depending upon the local climate. Tokens seem to me to be very localized items, so there would have been issues of general availability with these. Further, I am thinking that the butternut would have been a general comment of a sort whereas the copperhead pin with its Indian in the head-dress would have been a direct reference to the original Sons of Liberty, like the Red Strings and their referencing the passage in the OT about the harlot Rahab.

Vallandigham's comments about not knowing what word was printed on the badges would seem to indicate that his first-hand observation of the copperhead pins was not the same as the prosecutor's. I don't think we can eliminate even the possibility that they were hand-stamped special for the purpose rather than cut from coins where this could be done...possibly by the same companies that made the store tokens.

I have to admit that I've looked at this question a few times over the years, and this forum has proven far more informative than any sources I've seen in the past. Thanks, guys! Very fun stuff!

If a real copperhead was to be caught wearing the pin it would have been seen as a sign of treason. Such as John C. Breckenridge was accused of while in office. If they wore them it was said to have been placed under their lapel not in plain sight. However, it was the supporters of the copperheads that wore the buttons and carried the picket signs (so to speak) for the Democrats in control. All of that said, if i were a rich copperhead i would want to spend a few extra bucks to have a fancy pin if i chose only to where it to the local K.G.C. meeting! lol
L.C.Baker