TECTONATOR
Senior Member
It was a rainy weekend with warm temps...65deg in January! CaptainClad and I ventured out for a couple hours Saturday afternoon. Fields are a muddy mess, so we checked out an old homesite in the woods that we've had our sights on for some time. Owner was more than happy to let us hunt it.
We thought we might find some old coins. Didn't find any. However, after about an hour, I got a solid penny signal. Three inches down I pulled this round disc out. At first I thought it was some kind of a mason jar lid, but when I turned it over and saw the Eagle, I knew I had something special. Wasn't until I got home & cleaned it up that I reaized I had a Union Civil War breastplate! Bronze with a lead backing. I've found CW buttons before and a soldier's heel plate once, but this is by far the best CW relic I've ever found!
I also found an iron Eagle claw foot clutching a glass marble...like would be on old Victorian furniture. Also found an oil lamp base. I've found lots of these before, but none in this kind of condition. All it needs is a wick and I think it would work like new. Also found a couple buckles. First real hunt we've had this year...not a bad start!
For those who deal with CW relics often, what is the best way of cleaning the breastplate? So far, I've only rinsed it off in the sink.
Thanks for looking!
We thought we might find some old coins. Didn't find any. However, after about an hour, I got a solid penny signal. Three inches down I pulled this round disc out. At first I thought it was some kind of a mason jar lid, but when I turned it over and saw the Eagle, I knew I had something special. Wasn't until I got home & cleaned it up that I reaized I had a Union Civil War breastplate! Bronze with a lead backing. I've found CW buttons before and a soldier's heel plate once, but this is by far the best CW relic I've ever found!
I also found an iron Eagle claw foot clutching a glass marble...like would be on old Victorian furniture. Also found an oil lamp base. I've found lots of these before, but none in this kind of condition. All it needs is a wick and I think it would work like new. Also found a couple buckles. First real hunt we've had this year...not a bad start!
For those who deal with CW relics often, what is the best way of cleaning the breastplate? So far, I've only rinsed it off in the sink.
Thanks for looking!
