Surprise shoe buckle :o

[GeoAngelo]

Just dug this beauty out of one of my own fields. It's a surprise because it's by far the oldest thing I've found on my own land. The mechanism still moves freely after being in the ground for 200 years or so. Definitely not made in China Will add some post- cleanup pics later today.

 

[hoser]

Outstanding! Getting one that is still whole is super. Congrats

 

[GeoAngelo]

After conservation. Nice green patina under the dirt.

 

[The Rebel]

Very nice shoe buckle!

 

[bottlecap4u]

looks like it would still work, great condition.

 

[MasonDixonMding]

Wow it looks like they lost it a year ago. I mostly just find small piece. Very cool.

 

[stetam]

Excellent find being complete!

Steve

 

[cellrdwellr]

Nice one congrats!

 

[GeoAngelo]

Same area roughly 100 feet away was this beautiful batwing buckle. Small but made from good quality brass. Rang up like a large cent.

Nice green patina hiding under the dirt...

 

[RgnFn]

...Rang up like a large cent...

Sweet! Well done! But, umm, everyone here knows that there's no such thing as large cents

 

[GeoAngelo]

Sweet! Well done! But, umm, everyone here knows that there's no such thing as large cents

Well...

Found this on my property this morning under a massive oak tree.

 

[GeoAngelo]

The big old oak gave up some more large copper. This time an 1825 with a perfect "C" countermark.

Here's the generous tree in all its glory. This tree is very likely older than the United States. 14 foot circumference at the base. I have two of these beauties on my property.

 

[Saker]

Great finds. Looks like you have years of finding good stuff ahead of you there. That oak is massive!

 

[GroundSweeper]

Wow, jelly on your property and the oldie scores, congrats!

 

[bottlecap4u]

great finds, that oak looks like its been nursing coins for some time, gotta be more

 

[Mr. Digger]

Amazing buckle! Congrats. Love finding those. How did you clean it?

 

[maxxkatt]

Just dug this beauty out of one of my own fields. It's a surprise because it's by far the oldest thing I've found on my own land. The mechanism still moves freely after being in the ground for 200 years or so. Definitely not made in China Will add some post- cleanup pics later today.
View attachment 597805

Very nice! Did those shoe buckles serve a functional purpose or were they just decoration?

 

[Kansashunter]

Those cleaned up very well. We don't have this OLD history stuff in the middle of the country. Congrats.

 

[GeoAngelo]

Responding to how do I clean these....

After letting them completely dry out, step 1 is to carefully remove the crusted dirt with Andre's pencils. First the hardened steel wool point and then the steel wool buffer. Once complete, a nice coat of Renaissance Wax brings out the color. No water. I do all my important brass and copper this way, including coins.

 

[GeoAngelo]

Very nice! Did those shoe buckles serve a functional purpose or were they just decoration?

Oh they were 100% functional and served to "tie" your shoes. There were no shoelaces or colonial velcro to do the job.

You can still buy this style of buckle and shoes today and there are youtube videos that show you how they work.