Name this piece of history....

[ALCOAR]

Another fellow member's knowledge of historical artifacts jogged my memory about something that my father and I found when I was very young and have yet to discover if it's real or fake, and if real what exactly it is. So I figured I would hopefully get Crow Hunter's opinion as well as any others that might be able to help shine some light on this particular item I found that I believe dates back to the Civil War era. Thanks Crow Hunter for the info you already provided in the other thread that I had derailed to some degree.

The only other real pertinent info I can provide is that this potential artifact was found very close to the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta, GA, and the fact that I know at least some kinda skirmish b/t Union soldiers and Confederate soldiers took place directly where I found this "plate" as we found quite a few bullets from both Armies that are in fact authentic.

Pics of the artifact in question....

front side:


backside:


side view:


weight: somewhere b/t 5-10lbs

I'm posting a free accuwedge as a reward for anyone who can identify what this is

[Honu]

sent the pics to my brother who is a huge civil war era collector and historian
you might find out before then but will let you know what he says

[markm]

Go on Pawn Stars!

[Crow Hunter]

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

But it is unfounded.

I don't have a clue, but maybe I can ask some questions that might help.

What is it made out of? Lead?

It looks like it has a couple of holes in it for mounting maybe?

Is it a casting? It looks like one. It should have a mold line on it, probably around the back edge with the mold would have opened up.

I am assuming no dates or anything on it.

It looks like it had something on the top, over the eagles head that might have given a better clue. Also looks like there is a little bit of blue paint still on the shield.

I honestly don't know but the 1st thing that popped into my head when looking at it was "Something off of a monument like you see in a graveyard or a battlefield."

Looks to be in too good of condition to have been from that long ago. Usually the stuff you find from that era are really small things like buttons/buckles/shot etc.

But I have no idea for sure. I'm not that up on Civil War era other than basic stuff like Rifles/buckles/etc.

[Belmont31R]

Go on Pawn Stars!

Customer: Yeah I brought in these gold bars I found in my grand parents basement after they died. Theres 20 of them.


Pawn stars: Ill give ya like ten bucks.

[Crow Hunter]

Ah HA!

I think I might have clue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US...Lithograph.jpg

This is the great seal from 1885. Note square top shield and 13 arrows and the shape of the "star cluster" over the head of the eagle.

This is the great seal from 1841 which was used until 1866.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:18...eatSealDie.jpg

Notice fewer arrows, different tail, tri-peaked shield and different shaped star cluster.

While it is possible that someone could have made a personal version of the Great Seal and carried it with them during the Civil War. I find it unlikely that it would have that many similarities to the Great Seal of 1885 and so few to that of 1841.

Not conclusive evidence, but....

However, I still don't have a clue what it is.

[Honu]

yeah looks like a post era piece for sure based on the seal design

still waiting to hear but I do wonder if it was a mass grave marker where soldiers had fell not actual burial spot of course or a monument marker some one made and had put up on their own ? maybe 20 or so years after ? what it was mounted on ? could have rotted away or ?

[DocHolliday01]

Customer: Yeah I brought in these gold bars I found in my grand parents basement after they died. Theres 20 of them.


Pawn stars: Ill give ya like ten bucks.

Those guys are ****ing d-bags.

[ALCOAR]

Great stuff guys...another hour and somebody would have solved this puzzle. I just called pops and turns out he found out what it was....

It is the seal off the Bell from the Brooklyn Navy Yard...an Admiral took it when he retired and moved to Atlanta, GA in the late 1930's. My father's parents bought the property in 1945 and apparently the Admiral had left behind this relic when he decided to rejoin the service.

Still pretty neat but my apologies for the somewhat wild goose chase.

Eta...my dad gave me some more back story on the Civil War part of his childhood property: During the Battle of Atlanta, Confederate troops were actually camped out on the property and during that time, a skirmish had broken out when Union soldiers stumbled onto their location.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Atlanta

Damn I love history...thanks guys for helping out

[ALCOAR]

Ok...so after seeing how much fun it is to figure out what historical items are, I thought I would continue this trend and potentially grow this thread in a slightly different direction.

I'm gonna post only one pic of this next item in question and a few little hints or things I know, then tomorrow night I will share what I have been told it is, as well as try my best to capture the truly amazing thing that this relic does or displays.

Hints...political in nature, the answer lies within, Not Garfield the cat, but Garfield the ??? There is apparently at least one other of this item in existence and it's located currently in the Smithsonian.