First silver & possible Civil War pin

[EastBay Trader]

For several months I've enjoyed reading about the great finds shared here. I had recently taken up metal detecting, but my searches yielded little more than some clad coins, aluminum cans, and junk. (I did find a gold ring on my last hunt) Usually I go with a friend who shares my hobby. His finds have been much greater than mine, finding at least one silver every 2-3 trips. I've been admittedly jealous, but today I FOUND MY FIRST SILVER!

I went to my dad's to hunt the place where generations of my family has grown up. We began in a small patch of woods. The only find was a 1963 Lincoln. After leaving the woods he suggested looking near the old house across the road. Along the way I found a '41 Mercury. Once in the yard I found a bit of trash, and a '44 wheat. As the sun began to set I dug one final Lincoln. Before filling the hole, I decided to check the hole with my pinpointer. That's where I found what appears to be an infantry pin. Can anyone help me identify this.

There was a small battle just about 3 miles from my house. For years my dad has told me the story about a group of soldiers that had stopped at my great-grandfather's house as the left the battle. This item came from that yard. Though I'm not exactly sure what I have, it's awesome to hold history in your hand.

 

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[EastBay Trader]

Somehow my picture rotated. Sorry. Is there a way to fix this?

 

[worldtalker]

That is a nice merc,and,I'd say that pin is authentic. Man,you got some GOOD huntin ground,I'd be out there every day,being retired I can do that. Keep at it! God Bless Chris

 

[BosnMate]

In the civil war the hat pin designating infantry was a musical horn. I'm not really knowledgeable about military insignias, but my guess is yours dates to the Spanish American War or WWI, Company L, tenth infantry regiment. However that's just a guess, and there are people on this forum that will give us the straight dope. What ever it is, I think you have a great find and congrats on the silver.

 

[worldtalker]

In the civil war the hat pin designating infantry was a musical horn. I'm not really knowledgeable about military insignias, but my guess is yours dates to the Spanish American War or WWI, Company L, tenth infantry regiment. However that's just a guess, and there are people on this forum that will give us the straight dope. What ever it is, I think you have a great find and congrats on the silver.

I like your presonal signature,straight to the point!!!!

 

[Mainelypulltab]

Congrats on your first silver. Finding gold before silver is dang good.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Your hat pin is late 1800's early 1900's. It's hard to tell exactly from the photo being twisted that way, but I'm fairly sure from what I can make out that it would be the design that was used from 1896 until 1905.

Whatever you do don't try to straighten it out, it WILL break! Here's a pic of one for comparison.....

Also congrats on both finds!

 

[Coldshuz]

Somehow my picture rotated. Sorry. Is there a way to fix this?

Shhhh!... No one will notice .


Great find.

 

[EastBay Trader]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I look forward to sharing more in the future. NOLA Ken, it looks just like your picture. No way I'd try to straighten it. Much rather to have one piece bent than a broken relic.

 

[nsdq]

crazy idea rough riders ?

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Not Rough Riders, they were a cavalry unit, could be 10th Ohio possibly. The war ended before they saw any action. Could also be 10th Pennsylvania, they were in the Phillipines.

 

[civil_war22]

Possibly 10th light infantry

 

[EastBay Trader]

There was a candlelight tour of the battlefield tonight. I took my pin to ask some of the guys there. They informed me that the 10th Indiana retreated from this battle, went about five miles below my grandmother's house and set up camp for about a month. I'm wondering if the group that stopped by his house was from the 10th Indiana. The story certainly makes sense.

One of the guys asked me to donate or loan it to the local museum. I'm not sure what to do, but my find definitely has a great story. Glad I checked that hole again before simply settling for the Lincoln.

 

[Tnmountains]

There was a candlelight tour of the battlefield tonight. I took my pin to ask some of the guys there. They informed me that the 10th Indiana retreated from this battle, went about five miles below my grandmother's house and set up camp for about a month. I'm wondering if the group that stopped by his house was from the 10th Indiana. The story certainly makes sense.

One of the guys asked me to donate or loan it to the local museum. I'm not sure what to do, but my find definitely has a great story. Glad I checked that hole again before simply settling for the Lincoln.

Nice find. I would offer to share with the museum a good picture. Things have a way to get lost or misplaced with museums. Congratulations

 

[EastBay Trader]

Thanks for the advice. I don't mind sharing, but would hate to lose this.