WOW just dug my first plate! Looking like Pre-CW Militia Eagle!

Stef45

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Jan 7, 2016
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Trying to post this before grad school again! I should be reading about government budgeting but I'm too excited (Sorry to those of you who love government budgeting haha) I'll post my finds this morning first then post my finds from the last time out.

We got a ton of rain yesterday down here in Charleston and the colonial site that VMI and I are always digging loves the cold. Every time it's cold and wet it seems like we find something good. Today I decided to start where we park and hit an area where there is a lot of aluminum trash so its hard digging. I got a really high tone and it was loud so immediately I think its a can. But i dug my Slave tag about 10 yards away so i knew to dig it anyway. The second I saw it I threw my gloves off and texted VMI a series of expletives...he replied "dude, what did you dig!" I sent him a pic of the plate and he replied with worse expletives than I had originally sent him. He needs to find Jesus clearly. With Steve's plate so fresh in my memory I knew what I had was special. I don't think it is as old as his but we are thinking 1840's 1850's. I have been trying to find another example of it and found one dug down in SC as well which leads me to believe it was a South Carolina Militia plate, but I do have feelers out trying to narrow it down further. Its bent but its a beauty. Im guessing I could send it to someone to fix? not sure. But my FIRST plate!

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Here is the rest of what I found today. I found a coin/token that came in low but looks like an old copper that has been worn pretty bad. There is writing around the edge the letters i can make out thus far are "OLUSE" can also almost make out some kind of design at the bottom of the coin. I keep seeing two busts like a William and Mary but its probably just my eyes playing tricks.

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I also pulled a little underwear button. Not sure how old these are. A tiny piece of porcelain but luckily it had the crest on the back which I think is the British motto and crest not sure what that tells us other than its british. Found a big ole turn of the century spoon. And a broken piece of a buckle and a brass whatzit.

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Here are the finds from last weekend. First good signal was surrounded by poison oak/summac/ivy of course but it was a screamer. This is the biggest dandy and nicest dandy I've ever dug. Pretty happy with how it cleaned up with some alum.jelly as well. The gold gilt is more of a rose gold which is unusual from what I usually see. Dug some other buttons with flower designs and a tombac. The oval brass is a turn of the century brooch and I found the 1918 wheatie in the same hole. Cool piece of porcelain with what looks like "MARYLAND" on it. And the typical shell/feather edge.

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As always thanks for looking and good luck out there! Also for all my fellow Irish, have a great St. Paddy's, Sláinte!

UPDATE: After reaching out to some other detectorist they pointed me in the right direction and gave me a website that had the same design as my plate. Looking like 1832-1836 with the arrows pointing down. Seems like this plate would have belonged to a local militia and not state or fed. http://www.metaldetectingworld.com/05_finds_beltplate.shtml
 

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Upvote 52
Congrats. Awesome display piece. Eagle plates are usually automatic banners. I have no idea what variety you have or how rare they are. I have never dug one:(. I wonder if these are dug more over say a complete spectacle buckle

Thank you! Im just pumped to have dug a plate! Been near the top of my bucket list and for it to be pre CW make it even more cool for me. All i know is that it was tough to find a match to this one.
 

I can't help with the plate but look forward to seeing the final consensus. In the meantime, that dandy is in the top 5 I've ever seen, possibly the finest ever. Well played, sir. :icon_thumright:

Yeah like i said I've never seen a dandy that big or that fancy. Pretty crazy when i saw it in the hole. Thank you!
 

Holy cow!! what fantastic finds! Congrats! Here in Virginia its cold and windy and it rained all night. I hope to get out tomorrow if that pesky 4 letter word "work" doesn't get in the way. One of our fields loves the rain also!

Yeah last night when it was still raining all i could think about was this morning and getting out there. Glad I did! Thanks tho, appreciate it!
 

Those are some real nice finds bud. That Plate is killer. Had to look in my Sydney Kerksis book to see if i could find it. Looks like this one per page 175 might be it. How does US Militia,1812 sound. Congrats. Super Jealous, and banner worthy.


Thats looks like the same eagle just a different background. I posted a link in an update which is the exact same and in that it says 1832-1836 but might be the same manufacturer as this one and they might have just came up with little differences as time went on. Thanks for the help! Appreciate it!
 

I'd call that a solid win right there!
The coin and buttons alone would satisfy most relic hunters these days but the militia plate puts it over the top!
Congratulations on some great finds

that was my first thought too then I saw Charles ll of Ireland maybe
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Thank you IH! I gotta do some work on the coin..there isn't much left or it could be a counterfeit, but with some more cleaning i think ill be able to make out more of the detail.
 

Thats looks like the same eagle just a different background. I posted a link in an update which is the exact same and in that it says 1832-1836 but might be the same manufacturer as this one and they might have just came up with little differences as time went on. Thanks for the help! Appreciate it!
Sure looks identical to me. Maybe i just cant tell from the pic you provided, and i sure would love to see it when you get it cleaned up a little better. Anyhow definitely an awesome find. My vote is in. Congrats.
 

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Wow, great finds, the plate is awesome.
 

Sure looks identical to me. Maybe i just cant tell from the pic you provided, and i sure would love to see it when you get it cleaned up a little better. Anyhow definitely an awesome find. My vote is in. Congrats.

That's a stone cold solid match if I ever saw one-War of 1812 plate it is
 

awesome hunt and finds
that 205 yr old plate condition is just fantastic
 

Haha just got your pm's - was stuck on a ship the last 24 hours. I see you we're not only wrong, but one-upped me on the plate buddy. Very nice. Actually it's amazing.
 

Sure looks identical to me. Maybe i just cant tell from the pic you provided, and i sure would love to see it when you get it cleaned up a little better. Anyhow definitely an awesome find. My vote is in. Congrats.

Oops no thats my bad for some reason i didn't see the border...eyes playing tricks on me...that is it for sure! Thanks man!
 

Haha just got your pm's - was stuck on a ship the last 24 hours. I see you we're not only wrong, but one-upped me on the plate buddy. Very nice. Actually it's amazing.


Thanks man, i'm still shook. Thought i had the date narrowed down but turns out i was off in a good way!
 

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