Devonrex
Sr. Member
- Jan 6, 2012
- 351
- 1,260
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 4
- Detector(s) used
- XP DEUS, Nautilus DMC IIB
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
When I dug this little piece of brass this morning I didn't really think too much of it. I returned to my newly found Revolutionary War site where I found the escutcheon from a Brown Bess and two buttons from the Bearn regiment ( a coat and a cuff 8) last week. I had just found a pinwheel rosette when not more than a few feet I got the slightest of a reading. Digging down about 8 inches I was surprised to see what looked like the top of a key. I found a few more musket balls and then I left because I had to do some yard work. Once I got home I cleaned the tiny relic and suddenly I was looking at a bust of a man facing to the right. Not only that I also saw the Roman numerals XVI!!! You can tell the man is wearing a wig and is dressed in a uniform or regalia. I immediately posted my find and was astonished when the bust was indeed confirmed as Louis XVI, who was the King of France during the American Revolution! It was indeed identified as a French patriotic watch winder!!! Most everything found at this site has been early Revolutionary War period. I can only surmise that this watch winder key was owned by a French soldier of high rank and lost either right before the Battle of Yorktown in October of 1781 or up to a year thereafter, as many French soldiers stayed for an additional year before they returned home. As I said everything I have found at this site has been Revolutionary War except for 1 eagle button and some modern trash and coins. Of course a French citizen or immigrant could have been walking in this area at a later date in the 1800's and lost it but I find that highly unlikely. I am glad the end of August is nearing and with the Fall a new season of relic hunting will be here. I hope those on here who like relics appreciate this post. I had contemplated stopping to post my finds but I decided I would continue for those who like them. HH Devonrex Addendum: Just finished cleaning the back of my watch winder key and even though the detail is not as good as the front ....the back has the bust of a woman. It is indeed Marie Antoinette...Queen of France during the American Revolution!!! Just saw a button portraying both King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette on a button in Marian Hurley's book "A Guide to French Military Buttons of the American Revolution 1775 a 1783 ' and it is an EXACT match!!!! For those who have this book it is on page 65. She is looking to the left instead of the right but the slender face, eyes, and long hair worn down all match!!! Wow!I am pretty confident this was lost in 1781 to 1782. With the cooler temperatures approaching I am confident more Rev War relics will be found here. I am glad the end of August is nearing and with the Fall a new season of relic hunting will be here. I hope those on here who like relics appreciate this post. I had contemplated stopping to post my finds but I decided I would continue for those who like them. HH Devonrex
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