In the ground for almost 150 years and it looks perfect! Tsgman

[tsgman]

I cleaned it up and I was very pleased how it turned out!

 

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[crazyjarhead]

Beautiful

 

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[Newt]

Great job.
Newt

 

[kdismuke1]

I lost that November 10 1858. When you get to heaven would you give it back.Thanks .

 

[Trond]

Wow beautiful. :P

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Real purdy, really, really, purdy.

 

[blklab]

That is absolutely truly awesome "tsgman". I have never seen one before.
Very nice find in excellent condition. Congratulations. (blklab)

 

[Dman]

Looks like it was dropped yesterday. Congrats on the great find.
Dman

 

[Hutch911]

WOW Nice I have been thinking of cleaning mine but I'm afraid I will screw it up MAN that tuned out good congrats

 

[CowboyKolo]

Okay, when I hear the term breast plate, I'm thinking some kinda armor. I might be ignorant, but the only people who could wear that for the kinda breast plate I'm thinking would maybe be a smurf I agree with everyone it is a beautiful piece, and that in and of itself is enough to share your good fortune. But I'm still curious as to what it is
I'm guessing from the hooks on the back it's not a button in the "classic" sense?

 

[Mirage]

Looks cool whatever it is. Don't assume us Yankee know what that thing is. We don't get them civil war stuff up this far North.

Bob

 

[dirt diva]

Whoa !!! Beautiful

 

[The Bulgarian]

Absolutely awesome.

 

[Bumpstick]

Nice! Nice! Nice! Piece; Premo condition

 

[ivan salis]

I want one just like it. -- great find

 

[tsgman]

Looks cool whatever it is. Don't assume us Yankee know what that thing is. We don't get them civil war stuff up this far North.

Bob

It was part of the Civil War uniform for Union soldiers. here is a link showing them wearing them. http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/usaHistory/CivilWar/Uniforms.htm#Union Uniforms

 

[Captn SE]

Beautiful breast plate, Tsgman!!

You've got to be very proud of that find!!

Congrats!

CAPTN SE
Dan

 

[NGE]

WOWSER! Nice, I bet there are some out there with bullet holes in them, looks like they made excellent targets! . Has enny one here ever found one with a bullet hole in it?........NGE (T)

 

[Leon]

Super nice,, Congrats on an awesome find!
Great job on the clean up as well...

 

[xlt nh]

Absolutely Gorgeous.....Congrats!!

HH, Hank 8)

 

[tsgman]

WOWSER! Nice, I bet there are some out there with bullet holes in them, looks like they made excellent targets! . Has enny one here ever found one with a bullet hole in it?........NGE (T)

I have seen a few examples of shot plates in books. This was the second plate I dug in 2005. I didn't realize it at first but now I believe it may have been shot. The weird thing is it was hit from the back side. It is mushroomed out towards the front. I also have wondered about the lead on the back side being stained a dark brown color, my other plates have a white or gray patina like you find on a bullet. I need to take it somewhere and have it analyzed to see if it is blood that caused the dark stained color. That and the fact it was hit from the back instead of the front. All the examples I have seen the plates were shot from the front, also would make a better target to shoot at the front side. Another relic mystery.