🥇 BANNER Very Scarce MODEL 1839 MEXICAN WAR Officers Shoulder Belt Plate (Variant)

[{Sentinel}]

Hey Guys, this plate was quite a surprise!...I was recently digging an old Dragoons/Cavalry camp that served as an important post during the 1850's and the Civil War...I had a few Eagles in the pouch including some Eagle "D"s but hadn't dug anything a little while. I was going along and had just dug 3 crushed cans in the previous few minutes when I got another signal hitting exactly the same. I popped a plug out alittle quick and haphazardly expecting it to be another crushed flat can but when I popped the plug over something was thrown into the air and was flipping and then landed on the toe of my boot....when I looked down I had to take a double take as I saw 3 perfectly spaced hooks on the back of a rectangular plate....and when I turned it over I was quite surprised with an rare and beautiful plate....this plate is shown in photos as it was dug and is fully gilted though I have refrained from cleaning it other than dry brushing it to remove dirt and buildup. I will keep it in this condition with the patina out of preference as it has a pretty dusty red patina to it. If I were to clean it though, it has all the gilt underneath as well as the German Silvered Wreath and U.S. letters. Definitely one of the best surprise signals in quite sometime and a plate every bit as rare to dig and even more so in many cases, as a Confederate Plate. We see Confederate plates dug quite frequently but you don't see these plates dug very often....definitely one of the finest ive dug and certainly so for a U.S. plate.

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[Bubba65]

That is one GREAT AWESOME , lots of history there CONGRATS

 

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[CASPER-2]

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Fantasic recovery and one I have never seen befor. Congrats on bringing home a truly Banner find.
ZDD

 

[rodarian]

The things that keep showing up here, boggles the brain. Awesome find!

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

That's an awesome belt plate. I've never seen one like it before. I think it would look great on the BANNER!

 

[ironhorse]

Very nice looking find!

It has a great look and will have a place in your collection, front and centre!

 

[LI Tom]

Wow,Banner find for sure!

 

[sorahc]

Banner.

 

[Argentium]

Add my vote to the BANNER Wagon ! Not based on any knowledge I have about your beautiful buckle ,rather the overwhelming response
here on the part of those who do know the rarity of it ! Congratulations -( it's possible that yours is a first posted here ! )

 

[Vino]

Awsome save!!! Now thats something you dont see everyday. ..Banner find for sure. .
George

 

[Valley Ranger]

While I understand the perspective of "leaving a relic in dug condition" and how many collectors prefer that - I never do. I qualify that by saying that I've never found a CW buckle, but when I do, the dirt is coming off. I love the patina on relics and always try to leave that untouched as possible. But I want all the characteristics of the relic to show - not the mud. I can only imagine what all the old veterans would say about leaving the dirt on their buckles.

Regardless, that is a very nice save Sentinel.

 

[NorthernTesoro]

Man, what a great find! Congrats!

 

[Silver Searcher]

Great find Josh Well done on the Banner.

SS

 

[Guest 1551]

wow! this is something i'll have to show to my Dad. (thats how freaking awesome that is ) Major congrats.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Congratulations on BANNER No. 12 Josh!
You certainly deserve it with that find my friend, great background history too!

Dave

 

[The Patriot]

That's what it is all about right there…what a thrill, how many times I hear guys digging pop can after pop can and pull those type of beauties up…Well deserved, Congrats

 

[{Sentinel}]

Very nice, if your afraid, I will clean it for you.

Thanks my friend Cru. While I have no question about your abilities to clean up an artifact and have ample faith in it, I'm actually not afraid at all of cleaning it, just prefer it with the patina.

 

[{Sentinel}]

While I understand the perspective of "leaving a relic in dug condition" and how many collectors prefer that - I never do. I qualify that by saying that I've never found a CW buckle, but when I do, the dirt is coming off. I love the patina on relics and always try to leave that untouched as possible. But I want all the characteristics of the relic to show - not the mud. I can only imagine what all the old veterans would say about leaving the dirt on their buckles.

Regardless, that is a very nice save Sentinel.

Well thank you for the reply and just let me say that I'm very critical and particular about cleaning my finds. This plate has been thoroughly dry brushed and no longer has any "mud" on it but rather the original patina from the earth it was in. If I wanted a sterilized example I would simply go out and buy a non-dug example. When it comes to collectors and collecting, plates with a nice patina and that actually show signs of being used many times (though not always) adds to the value. There's been finds I've seen over the years where I've said, wow that should be cleaned...or WOW that was Way over-cleaned. This one has been cleaned of dirt and grime however I've not taken the dirt patina off and sterilized it with something such as lemon juice or oil that you would use on a much more common Civil War box plate or a button. There are several old veteran diggers out there that are very much against sterilizing a beltbuckle/plate, my grandfather was one of them but it really does come down to preference at the end of the day. I've been cleaning relics since I was a kid and there are times I do and don't...this is a case where I have, but limited. Thanks for the reply Richard and hope you and your family have been doing well.

 

[{Sentinel}]

Man, what a great find! Congrats!

Colin, thank you buddy. You're an asset to our hobby my friend.

 

[Darrow]

It's beautiful! Good lesson on digging every target. Congratulations!