✅ SOLVED Need help identifying infantry medal

[glasskeeper]

I was metal detecting in my backyard 4 years ago when I found a medal. It says Worcester light infantry massachusetts 1803 on one side and it's blank on the other side. It has an Indian holding a bow with arrows and a star beside his head. It looks somewhat like the massachusetts state seal you see on their old state coins. Someone put a hole in it with a nail or a punch, maybe to wear it around their neck. I also found what I think was a grape shot from a cannon next to it about 6 to 8 feet away. A dealer at a gun show who deals with old medals and artifacts said he has never seen anything like it and it could be a soldier could have had it nailed it to his footlocker. I live in central Vermont and I was told there were encampments around the area. I have searched the internet and have not been able to find anything that looks like this. If anyone has any ideas what this is, I would appreciate any help at all. I've included some photos. Thanks, Jim

 

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[diggummup]

It looks as if there was a ring that has broken off the top of it between the I and the G in LIGHT. Perhaps a medal of some type that would have been suspended from a ribbon similar to this one- Centennial 1803-1903 Worcester Light Infantry Medal NR!

 

[glasskeeper]

Diggummup you are right there is a spot right on top where it looks like something was attached to it. I have only cleaned the dirt off it by holding under water and it's the only shiny spot on the medal. At first I thought of a centennial but it only gives one date, but I'm certain it's not from 1803. The medal isn't as heavy as a coin so I don't know what it's made of. If it was copper it wouldn't be in such good shape. What puzzle me is the grape shot I found went I went back out to the same spot. I have seen a button from a uniform with the same design at an antique shop in Maine. Thanks for getting back to me.

 

[diggummup]

Here you go- Mlitary pin: Worcester Light Infantry Massachusetts, June 6th, 1928, black metal | eBay

 

[glasskeeper]

Thank you diggummup, to think I've spent 4 years wondering what the medal was and when it was made. It's nice to see one complete. I've looked on eBay and never seen one. Now I can safely say the piece I thought was grapeshot is nothing but a piece of round rusty iron and I can take it off my shelf. My brother said I should have started here first. Now that was fast. Thanks again Jim

 

[diggummup]

Glad I could help. I'm just wondering what it's actually purpose was. I believe it was a type of anniversary medal in itself. I found out that the 100th anniv. was celebrated on June 6, 1903, so it's a little more than coincidence that the one from 1928 is also dated June 6, exactly 125 years after the inception of the "WLI". Sounds very plausible to me.
Check out this paragraph-
Report - Connecticut. Adjutant-General's Office - Google Books

 

[glasskeeper]

Diggummup, thank you for the link you sent me.l finally know what it is and can enjoy it with that information. Undertaker and I went to Fort Ticonderoga in NY today and I can't believe some of the revolutionary artifacts they have there. Thanks for taking the time to research the medal more, it was very interesting, How one ended up in my backyard I'll never know. Thanks again, Jim