Happy/Sad Belt Buckle

DoctorWhy · Oct 27, 2016

Hi Folks,

My friend Ed obtained a new permission on our off-the-coast Maine island. It was his first opportunity to 'solo' with a Garrett AT Pro. Within out first 15 minutes exploring a late-1700's/early-1800's cellar hole he dug up this item.

It came out of the ground shiny and silver -- no tarnish. It looks like it may have been a facade of a belt buckle. It is approximately 2" x 3". Rotating it by 180 degrees it displays either a happy face or a sad face. A really unique and mystifying item...

Any idea of its age?

Thanks!
--Bert

bruinvikes · Oct 27, 2016

Not sure what it is, but that's a pretty cool find!

lostandfound79 · Oct 27, 2016

No idea on the id but that is an amazing find!

woodstock · Oct 27, 2016

How about ...

A pic of the back ? How it attaches to the belt and it's size ? Is it Plated brass or Plated pot metal ? Unless in was homemade or a art school project . And if it is Silver it should have a makers mark and 925 or sterling cause it doesn't look like it was made before that . From what I know , belts were thin in the years before the 60's came . Then they became wide and today they are thin again ... so I'm saying late 60's through mid 80's hippy belt buckle and until you give more for me to go on that's my guess . Woodstock

islamoradamark · Oct 28, 2016

the happy sad face has been around a long time could be alot older than you think

dlax · Oct 28, 2016

The design does seem more modern, maybe 60s/70s as Woodstock suggested. Placing a coin or object in your photo can help as a size reference.

Super cool regardless of age!

Mud-puppy · Oct 28, 2016

Never seen one like that! Great find!
Mud

BufordCityDawg · Oct 28, 2016

I bet that belt belonged to a father who wanted his kids to know his mood before they started bugging him for things. I might be willing to buy that off of him as my kids could use that warning as well. :cool:

BCD

DoctorWhy · Oct 28, 2016

woodstock said:
A pic of the back ? How it attaches to the belt and it's size ? Is it Plated brass or Plated pot metal ? Unless in was homemade or a art school project . And if it is Silver it should have a makers mark and 925 or sterling cause it doesn't look like it was made before that . From what I know , belts were thin in the years before the 60's came . Then they became wide and today they are thin again ... so I'm saying late 60's through mid 80's hippy belt buckle and until you give more for me to go on that's my guess . Woodstock

Thank you for your insight. I'm leaning towards it being a "hippie" era piece.. I don't have it available at the moment since its in my friend's collection and he's out of town.

Here's a photo of the back side. There are three 'greenish' spots where it looks to have been soldered to a backing. The was no corrosion on the plate when dug. It came out of the ground about as clean and bright as you see it here. It is approximately 2"x4" and about the thickness of a piece of stovepipe. It appears to be embossed/stamped from a sheet of metal. I didn't see any silver markings.

dlax · Oct 28, 2016

I'm very far from an expert on metals, but what about stainless steel? All of the stainless steel dinner knives I've been finding all over my yard also come out perfectly clean.

JTW · Oct 28, 2016

Very cool find!

matmit · Oct 30, 2016

Kind of neat to think that the wearer could display his emotion d'jour so everybody would know his mood in advance :lol:

rreahard · Oct 31, 2016

Cool find! Can't be much help on ID..

Happy/Sad Belt Buckle

DoctorWhy

Full Member

Attachments

bruinvikes

Elite Member

lostandfound79

Full Member

woodstock

Elite Member

islamoradamark

New Member

dlax

Elite Member

Mud-puppy

BufordCityDawg

Elite Member

DoctorWhy

Full Member

Attachments

dlax

Elite Member

JTW

Senior Member

matmit

Elite Member

rreahard

Elite Member

Similar threads