Likely a piece of a mid 19th century Hat Plate
Kuger is pointing in the right direction. The eagle is a US Military Cap Insignia, likely for Infantry use, ca. 1830's. The piece is nearly complete, except for the wire attachment devices that were originally soldered to the back (evidence of solder is noted on two spots on the backside of the wings). These thinly stamped insignia items are rarely found in such complete condition, as usually we see only parts and pieces found.
The link posted, to
American Military Insignia 1800-1851, by J. Duncan Campbell, is an excellent reference. The cap insignia posted here, appears to be a match for
USNM 60365-M (S-K 121). Figure 37
I think it's a fake guys, got it home and cleaned up and it looked machine pressed
. Here is the cleaned up pic.
The technology and machinery to roll thin brass, and die-stamp fine designs, was in full swing with the Industrial Revolution. By the 1830's military buttons were being produced of rolled stamped brass as well, along with many other thin stamped and rather flimsy items (note powder flasks of the period for example).
It was near a civil war battlefield, I found mini balls as well. I will take a pictures (w)hen I get home.
Please post pictures of ALL your other finds from the area as well. Are searching in Florida also? There are actually very few Civil War battlefield sites in Florida. These smaller Eagle Cap Insignia devices are more commonly encountered in Pre-Civil War military sites, such as camps, forts, and skirmish sites of the Second Seminole War and Third Seminole War. In my own collection, I have a portion of one of the thin stamped brass Infantry Eagle Cap Insignia, slightly larger in size, that was found on a Second Seminole War period site (1835-1842), along with buttons, bullets, and coins of the same period.
CC Hunter
. Here is the cleaned up pic.
?They were machine stamped!!!the originals!Out of sheet brass
