...this is a find of a lifetime that I made last year. I was detecting at an old farm house and this popped out. Most of us who love old coins also love history. So this kinda ties in to the forum Maybe. Anyway, it has been Id'd as a, War of 1812 officers sword belt plate. Very cool I think. Never even thought of finding something like this in Michigan. Michigan did play a part in that war near Detroit. I'm 100 west from Detroit area. Love the details in the belt. Cool stuff. Hope ya all don't get to mad at me for posting this on the forum. Its not a coin but I was looking for some when I found this.
hey... now that you mention it, I think I lost my sword belt plate in the michigan area... sometime around 1812ish...
That's a really neat find! Looking at it kind of gave me chills thinking about what it has been through.
it's not a coin, but if you put it with american and british coins or commemoratives for the era you'll have a really pretty display that would be fun to put together. ***noob alert*** would one clean the plate? i know it's a sin for a coin, but is it a sin for that? it's really pretty
I don't think I'd clean it. All the detail is easily seen and it seems to have a nice patina from the photos. I'd leave it be. If it were caked with dirt or crud that would be different. Just my 2c
Coins like anything else that develops a patina over the years would have it's value diminished if cleaned. Ever watch Antiques Roadshow? I've seen pieces of furniture lose thousands of dollars because someone stripped or polished the original finish away.
