military whatzit? SOLVED

[Cubfan64]

2 of these were found recently by a couple friends of mine in the NH/MA area and we're wondering if anyone has information on what they may be for/from?

Finds in the area have been in the 1800's. As I understand it, there is nothing on the back of them and I'll have to check with them and see what the size is of each.

Anyone familiar with military relics able to ID what these are?

Thanks

 

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[DCMatt]

Re: military whatzit?

It is in really nice shape. Without knowing more details I'd guess its a reproduction hat badge from a re-enactor. When we know more about the size and see the back, it will be more evident.

DCMatt

 

[girardpaguy]

Re: military whatzit?

Need a little more info.

Size? what does the back look like? How deep was it when you found it?

Older navy?

 

[vayank54]

Re: military whatzit?

From the pic it looks modern but made to look like an old militia hatplate. Can you post a pic of the back? That might help.

 

[Cubfan64]

Re: military whatzit?

I'm working on getting a photo of the back as well as something to reference the size - I'll post them as soon as I can.

You're all correct that the condition is really outstanding and my first thought too was that they weren't all that old, but the other stuff found in that field seems to be quite old and it's near homesites from the 1700's.

 

[SteveP (NH)]

Re: military whatzit?

Hi everyone - I found one of the two of these things so the additional photos requested are attached below. First here are some of the details. These objects were found on the property of a house built in the 1790s as I understand it. The land looked like it had once been a road to the property but there is a modern leading to it now. We found what appeared to be a dump as there was lots of trash, in fact I pulled 11 pieces of iron out of the same hole as this plate. There were also lots of pieces of glass bottles but none were saved as they were all pretty small. Several old looking buckles, a few nondescript buttons and a few metal whatzits were were also pulled from the dump area. Oh the best find (found by another detectorists) was a GAR belt plate.

There was only one coin pulled out of the dump area and it was a 1900 Indian Head Cent. There was also a 3 inch medal commemorating an event of the French revolution dated October 6th 1789 but we have no idea when this commemorative was made.

Anyway here are some more photo's, as you can see from the picture with the calipers in it this thing is about 2.5 inches across. The end on shot shows it is pretty thin brass or copper. Looks like it was stamped to me. Finally as you can see from the shot of the back there doesn't seem to be any way to attach it to something else, though I did find several very, very thin pieces of iton that could have been pins of some sort as they were that thin and pointed on one end.

Oh and it was found about 7 or 8 inches deep using a Fisher F75, the other one was at a similar depth and was found with a Minelab Xterra 705 using a 3 Khz coil, also this place was really out in the sticks so it doesn't seem a likely place for re-enactors.

 

[QUICKSILVER (appletree)]

Re: military whatzit?

Ok the attaching points are where the hole is on the right and directly across to the left the shiny spot! I would say cap badge as well. any idea what its made of?

 

[diggummup]

Re: military whatzit?

I'm looking at the stars on the flag, can you tell which pattern they are from here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States (a little more than halfway down the page)

 

[vayank54]

Re: military whatzit?

Ok the attaching points are where the hole is on the right and directly across to the left the shiny spot! I would say cap badge as well. any idea what its made of?

It's a hat plate. Probably milita early to mid 1800's
It may have something to do with New Hampshire as the ship in the center is similar to the New Hampshire state seal.
That is really cool

 

[jeff of pa]

Re: military whatzit?

good ID vayank54

early to mid 1840's New Hampshire Volunteer Militia cap plate.


Source: American Military Headgear Insignia by Campbell & O'Donnell, Figure 666, p. 293.

 

[vayank54]

Re: military whatzit?

Thanks Jeff. I was just making an educated guess.
That's a cool piece. I had never seen one.
Guess I should get that book

 

[Cubfan64]

Re: military whatzit?

Thanks very much for the ID help guys - seems as though someone here can always answer my questions