Pre civil war site find - SOLVED - thanks Crusader

[julesjunk]

Edit: 90% solved. Would still like to know what the letters/branch thingy stand for. So please, chime in with any added thoughts.

Break in the weather. Rehunted a local (SE Kansas) hay field that's produced a number of military related items, dating from as early as the 1840/50's. Little else, with the exception of hunters trash ie shotgun brass, etc. This hunt produced a couple buckles, some period correct roundball lead, the Dragoon button (my first:-), and the whatzit.
Piece read an erratic mid 40's to mid 60's VDI on my MXT. Measures 7/8's by 3/4's of an inch, and approx. the thickness of a nickel. Not sure of composition. Didn't realize it until I uploaded pics, but it appears to of been in a fire??
Pattern is possibly an initial, or two, with a line to the right that looks like a twig with leaves or berries on it??
Usually, I'd write this off as some costume jewelry, but considering the site, and lack of "civilian" trash, I'm inclined to think it's military in nature. Any thoughts??.....

Thanks!
Jules

 

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[umrgolf]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Neat piece.. looks to me like its probably associated with the military activity at your site. To me it resembles the early 1800's script letter, military flat buttons.. but I don't think that's what it is Good luck with this one

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Neat piece.. looks to me like its probably associated with the military activity at your site. To me it resembles the early 1800's script letter, military flat buttons.. but I don't think that's what it is Good luck with this one

Agreed. The script does have a military look about it, especially the fig(?) branch.

Still curious as to it's composition. I'm going to take a guess, and say yellow brass. It has a little weight to it. I wonder if that would turn silverish looking if exposed to heat?

 

[DCMatt]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

It looks like pewter to me.

I know this doesn't match exactly but it might put you on the right path:

L D is for Light Dragoons. Cast pewter from the late 18th C.

Good hunting!

DCMatt

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Thanks DC,
I'm liking the idea that it's pewter.

Further examination shows the branch actually starts at the far left, running over the top of the letters, to the right.

 

[Johnny Ringo Silver]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Since I'm at risk of handing over a dollar, I'll have to totally disagree with it being military related!
I believe Cracker Jacks offered these things up back in the 70's! You just told them the initials you wanted and they fixed one up for you with proof of purchase and $3 for shipping.lol
Its my damn story and I'm sticking to it! 8) Johnny

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Since I'm at risk of handing over a dollar, I'll have to totally disagree with it being military related!
I believe Cracker Jacks offered these things up back in the 70's! You just told them the initials you wanted and they fixed one up for you with proof of purchase and $3 for shipping.lol
Its my damn story and I'm sticking to it! 8) Johnny

Just like a wild animal cornered, Johnny R is starting to fight Hard! So please, someone out there please help me put this rabid dog down, and connect this whatzit with a military related item!

Regards,
Jules

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Its the insert for a mid 19th century Seal Matrix. The script is in reverse.

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Its the insert for a mid 19th century Seal Matrix. The script is in reverse.

Thanks!
I wonder if I have it upside down in the pics??

Maybe "LG" followed by the twig/fig??

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

I'm tending to agree with Crusader ...though I haven't seen another specimen precisely like that one. I think Crusader could be correct that it is from an early-1800s wax-seal stamp (based on it being found with an 1840s-era US Dragoons button). The silvery material along the edge (and on its back) could be fire-melted silver-solder which attached the emblem to the wax-seal stamp's main body. Perhaps the emblem is Old-English Script or German Script lettering.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Since I'm at risk of handing over a dollar, I'll have to totally disagree with it being military related!
I believe Cracker Jacks offered these things up back in the 70's! You just told them the initials you wanted and they fixed one up for you with proof of purchase and $3 for shipping.lol
Its my damn story and I'm sticking to it! 8) Johnny

No way. $3 would have been too much for shipping.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Its the insert for a mid 19th century Seal Matrix. The script is in reverse.

Thanks!
I wonder if I have it upside down in the pics??

Maybe "LG" followed by the twig/fig??

Reversed looks like 79.



Or reversed and rotated. GL?

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Its the insert for a mid 19th century Seal Matrix. The script is in reverse.

Thanks!
I wonder if I have it upside down in the pics??

Maybe "LG" followed by the twig/fig??

Reversed looks like 79.

Or reversed and rotated.

Yeah, that's why I was trying to turn it 180. Looks more like numbers than letters. But I don't see having a branch pointing up.

Thanks for chiming in. And I agree, $3 is too much for shipping. That's just J Ringo trying to skim some off the top.

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

I'm tending to agree with Crusader ...though I haven't seen another specimen precisely like that one. I think Crusader could be correct that it is from an early-1800s wax-seal stamp (based on it being found with an 1840s-era US Dragoons button). The silvery material along the edge (and on its back) could be fire-melted silver-solder which attached the emblem to the wax-seal stamp's main body. Perhaps the emblem is Old-English Script or German Script lettering.

I'm liking Crusader's input as well. And good idea, suggesting Old-English etc. That could possibly explain not being able to pin down the "letters".

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Its the insert for a mid 19th century Seal Matrix. The script is in reverse.

Thanks!
I wonder if I have it upside down in the pics??

Maybe "LG" followed by the twig/fig??

Reversed looks like 79.




Or reversed and rotated. GL?

GL maybe, just not sure what the swiggle & two dots mean For those that don't know, the giveaway for a seal is the simple 'line' boarder around the edge

 

[julesjunk]

Re: Pre civil war site find - just costume junk?

Its the insert for a mid 19th century Seal Matrix. The script is in reverse.

Thanks!
I wonder if I have it upside down in the pics??

Maybe "LG" followed by the twig/fig??

Reversed looks like 79.


Or reversed and rotated. GL?

GL maybe, just not sure what the swiggle & two dots mean For those that don't know, the giveaway for a seal is the simple 'line' boarder around the edge

Thanks for the input Crusader. Our monthly MD club meeting is here in just an hour, and I plan to display it as a seal. Was hoping to find a military reference, but I'm happy with just knowing it's function!