Is this Authentic?

[coinman66]

My buddy found this years back, he wanted me to post it for him. He found it in a plowed field in East Central Illinois. We cant decide if its real or a reproduction. Its heavy for its size. If its real whats it worth he might sell it? Thanks
Coinman66

 

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[SouthCarolinaTeacher]

Looks real.

 

[coinman66]

What would it be doing in East Central Illinois? I never heard of any battles or skirmishes up here.

 

[jeff of pa]

A friend Found one up here in Schuylkill County.
Probably Brought home After the War.

 

[Montana Jim]

Yup... it sure looks real!

If he wants to start comparing prices and values... tell him to Google "dug US belt plate" and start reading. There are enough out there for sale that he should get a great idea of condition vs. value.

 

[PBK]

Looks right to me, too. Nice relic!

Here's one for $125 at http://www.corinthcivilwarrelics.com/forsalebuckles.html:

 

[Gribnitz]

Thats a good un. Later model arrow hook plate. The shape its in, probably worth $100 +/- $25. The union stuff isn't worth a great deal, there is a lot of it floating around, but it sure is neat to find.

 

[hasbeen]

There were no battles fought in Illinois during the Civil War but there were several Union camps,prisons,and depots scattered around the state. Training camps;Blum,Douglas, and Long in Chicago,Mather in Peoria,Yates ,Taylor,and Butler in Springfield. Quincey,Carrolton,Aurora,and Cairo also had training camps.

Prisoners of war were held at Camp Douglas,Butler,Rock Island,and Alton Penitentiary.

Cairo also had a hospital and supply depot as well as the training camp.

All of these places would be good hunting if they were availible.

Don't forget that equipment was carried home by troops and all of the Civil War equipment and supplies were eventually disposed of by the army.

hasbeen

 

[bakergeol]

Great find. Tell your buddy to keep it as the bragging rights are certainly worth more than the little money you could get on E-Bay for it.
I would dream of parting with a great find like that but that's just me.

George

 

[Tony in SC]

Hey Coinman, There were several camps in Illinois during the Civil War one of the largest being camp Butler near Cairo. A large part of Sherman's force that invaded the South were Illinois troops. And I believe what you have is the real McCoy!!. Tony

 

[dg39]

Real.
DG

 

[Comanche Todd]

it may even be from a grave? maybe a soldier was buried in that field back in 1865 ?

 

[trk5capt]

Many Veterans Returned Home With Their Belt Plates And They Or Their Children Lost Many Of Them After The War. Just My 2 Cents. trk5capt...

 

[coinman66]

Thanks everybody!

 

[Dimeman]

Nice 140+ year old relic.

 

[dlindsay]

Looks like the real thing!
I found 2 about 4 years ago north east of Indy. I found 1 one week and hunted another site where an old house once stood and found another a week later. The old houses were about a mile apart.

 

[coinman66]

Should he clean it, or leave it alone. I could probably buff it up with a Dremel, Brasso and buffing wheel.

 

[Montana Jim]

If he is selling it, leave it alone.

If he is keeping it forever and ever... up to him to clean it!

 

[99Brown]

looks real to me!

A buddy of mine was hunting an old field where his great grandparents lived and raised, pulled one up almost like it, but only the U in U.S. was left. Pretty cool how things can find there way up here. Probably brought home by some soldier after the war.

99Brown

 

[coinman66]

Thanks everybody!