🥇 BANNER Did I Really Find a War of 1812 British Hat Badge Today!?

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I was on my way back from working a few days in Ottawa today and decided to stop for a quick 2hr hunt at a site where I've already had some success at finding War of 1812 relics! This site has been pounded to death by at least a half dozen others over the past 4 - 5 years, so I'm happy just to get any scrap of a relic they might have left behind! Well today it seems they left something really big for me to find! I found the large brass cruet stand base first, then the brass harness buckle. There was a ton of trash to get through on this area, so I took my time and dug anything that gave a solid non-ferrous reading, hence all of the trash.

I then got a solid 85 - 86 at 8" and thought ... "wow this must be big" then out of the hole came the hat badge! I dropped down to my knees, knowing full well what I had just found and all I could say was OMG, OMG, OMG, please let this be real! I had to take a quite a number of insitue pictures, as all the pics were coming out blurry because my hands kept shaking.

I will leave this to the experts here to help me I.D. exactly what this plate is. I can tell you that it's solid, heavy and still has some of the leather / felt on the back!

Thanks for looking,
Dave

Update

This piece is a Victorian Period (1837 - 1901) British Army Mounted Officer’s Breastplate/Martingale Badge

"This is a general service pattern, pre-1902 martingale badge, which seems to have featured a Guelphic crown, perhaps in association with Prince Albert. They were worn across the horse's chest. This would have been worn on the chest of the horse held by three straps, two on either side of its flanks from beneath the saddle with a third, central strap, running beneath the horses' chest to the girth strap. The strap originally attached the underside of the noseband to the girth, in order to keep the horse's head down. Either the badge or the leather pad on which it sits is in many cases heart shaped, reflecting that it (the badge) sits over the horses’ heart. There were also regimental versions and the crown changed with the sovereign, just as with cap badges and other insignia. Invariably martingale badges took the same 'garter' shape as that adopted as a template for Glengarry badges and, similarly, the centre often bore a unit motif."
Thanks again for your help on the I.D. Rick!

Here are a couple of pics of the piece after a light brushing with combination of beeswax & paraffin wax.

 

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[46Wheat]

Nice digs . Thanks for the pics

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

Wow, that's a killer find, even if it's not the 1812 version. What an adventure this detecting business is haha!

Thanks for your post Cache!
'Metal Detecting is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get'!
Dave

Very cool.

Thanks!

Well Done Dave ,

Great looking military relic !

dawg

Thank you my friend!
Best of luck to you dawg,
Dave

Dave that is a beauty right there my friend. Great condition

Thanks very much for your post and your assistance Abe!
Dave

Wow, it must of been belt plate/ badge day. Looks like a great find to me. I'd vote banner, but I guess I think most things are great! Seems like a rare military find, I'd think it really is worthy of banner.

Thanks very much for your vote of confidence that it will make BANNER Treb!
We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Dave

It is an awesome find, more so give the area is pounded by MD's……..congratulations…..

Thanks very much for your post doc!
I'm heading back to the site on Tuesday, but it's a 2hr drive both ways!
Dave

Congrats Dave, that sure is a beauty. It would make a wonderful centerpiece of any display cabinet, great find.
You sould give that site a serious going over, there could be alot more goodies left there by the other MDers.
ZDD

I hear you Dave, believe me it's keeping me awake at night just thinking about it!
I'm heading back to the site on Tuesday, I'll post anything of interest.

Hope you and Rick get out again soon, you guys always find something good when you do!
Dave

That's a winner of a find. Well done!

I'm sure it will make a great centrepiece in your display

Thanks buddy, always enjoy seeing your finds too!
Dave

 

[Doc Arey]

Beautiful save

 

[Old Dude]

Congrats on your new and impressive avatar!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Congrats on your new and impressive avatar!

Thanks very much Dave!

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Nice find! You've been pulling up some really awesome stuff !

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Dave, after reading Ricks post I had to nominate this find for the Banner. It is most definitely a Banner worthy.
ZDD

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

It may not be war of 1812, but is still a great find. And boy it sure cleaned up good!

Thanks very much for your post and for your kind words!
Best of luck to you,
Dave

The flowing script and look is definitely time-period. Absolutely amazing find!

Awesome!

Thanks very much Scrappy!
Dave

Beautiful piece! Congrats!

Thank you!

That is one of the coolest things I have seen you dig, its in lovely condition - CONGRATS

Thank you for your post Cru and for your kind words mate, I truly appreciate it!
Cheers,
Dave

Very nice all round, complete and the condition.

SS

Thank you very much Silver Searcher.
I'm still amazed that it wasn't bent, dented or chipped up!
Cheers mate,
Dave

Dave the more I look at this incredible detailed piece and it's condition the more I realize this belongs up top. It's obviously a very scarce find and in beautiful condition. You did a fantastic job on it as well. That will be gorgeous in a display and I am voting banner my friend. Very happy to see you find such an incredible piece, Abe

Thank you for your kind words Abe!
After seeing seeing some of the finds that you make my friend, I appreciate your suggestion that this piece deserves to be on the BANNER.
Dave

W
O
W

Thanks!

Nice digs . Thanks for the pics

Thank you 46Wheat!
HH, Dave

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Beautiful save

Thank you Doc!

Congrats on your new and impressive avatar!

Thanks again for all your support Dave, I appreciate it buddy!

Nice find! You've been pulling up some really awesome stuff !

Thanks K, always great to hear from you!
Best of luck,
Dave

Dave, after reading Ricks post I had to nominate this find for the Banner. It is most definitely a Banner worthy.
ZDD

Thanks very much Dave, you and Rick are a couple of my biggest supporters and I appreciate it my friend!
HH,
Dave

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Nice digs . Thanks for the pics

Thanks again for your post and for your support my friend!
Dave

 

[pepperj]

A little late in replying to the awesome looking badge Dave, it'll look great sitting front and centre in any display. Grabbing it out of the soils from the hard hit area just shows that there's still treasures to be found there, congrats on the find and the vote was put in on this one!.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

A little late in replying to the awesome looking badge Dave, it'll look great sitting front and centre in any display. Grabbing it out of the soils from the hard hit area just shows that there's still treasures to be found there, congrats on the find and the vote was put in on this one!.

Thanks very much for your vote J!
I still find it hard to believe this wasn't found before, but you can't cover every inch of every site.
I all honesty, I wasn't even 'gridding', I was just 'wandering' around. I've decided to do a more intensive search of the area I found this in tomorrow and Friday, as I'm overnight in Kingston on Thursday.

You never know ... I might get lucky again!
Hope you've been getting out this summer,
Dave

 

[RelicMedic]

Oh man that is gorgeous!! I've never seen one before. It's gotta be a rare find. Superb!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Oh man that is gorgeous!! I've never seen one before. It's gotta be a rare find. Superb!

Thank you for your post my friend!

Best of luck to you,
Dave

 

[johnnyblaze]

Dave that is one sweet find man

My next question would be why is this not on the banner

Vote is in..

Blaze

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Dave that is one sweet find man

My next question would be why is this not on the banner

Vote is in..

Blaze

Thanks very much Johnny!

Your guess is as good as mine my friend.

Best of luck to you,
Dave

 

[Steve in PA]

Dave, I have been following this post and have now seen enough evidence to put my Banner vote in. Hope it makes it Buddy!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Dave, I have been following this post and have now seen enough evidence to put my Banner vote in. Hope it makes it Buddy!

Thank you so much Steve!
If I can ever return the favour just let me know bud!
Dave

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Very cool.

Thanks!

 

[The Rebel]

Hey Dave.

No need to be sad, although I know how you feel. Still a cool find and if that place has been hit hard for that long at it was missed chances are very good that there are still goodies to be found. Banner vote in!