Ammo Collecting Civil War Bullets From $2 to $2000

Do tell!

Edited: Does he fix his mistakes? Make it right with the buyer?
 
This is not always the case. I know for one a very popular ebay seller who says he dug his stuff, didn't.
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Actually, the amount estimated is between 6 to 7 million. Those were the newest amounts I learned last year at Gettysburg from the NPS.

I learned THIS year from The Horse Soldier, a basic dropped bullet with true Gettysburg provenance is around $40.00 a bullet. This is a basic Minie ball from a known collection. The price goes up dramatically if the bullet starts getting rarer, etc and the provenance is with it. I wanted to bring one home with me in September and they were out of the $40.00 ones.
This is true you can walk into any of the bigger relic shops in Gettysburg and buy a minie ball for 5 or 6 bucks out of a boxfull that says Gettysburg on it but 99% are not Gettysburg dug bullets. The minie balls with provenance from Gettysburg or whatever other battlefield are much higher priced and in their display cases. Having the experience to judge the patina and being willing to pay the price can get you some nice relics most people don't want to pay the higher prices for a minie ball.
 
I thought if you knew his hand was in the cookie jar, you'd know if he fixed it or not.

What do you think a true Gettysburg, 3 ring Minie should go for? This is an interesting conversation!
 
I thought if you knew his hand was in the cookie jar, you'd know if he fixed it or not.

What do you think a true Gettysburg, 3 ring Minie should go for? This is an interesting conversation!
Lets put it this way a state issue belt plate was sold to a guy and 2 years later at the Richmond CS show the digger that sold it to HS saw and the guy had it labled Gettysburg and the digger informed him that he had dug the plate in VA. Gburg 3 ringer $10 tops. What you have to keep in mind is those boys are in the tourist business how many folks a year come thru Gburg. Plus the diggers that sell to them know that if they say it was a Gburg find they get more for it. Just Sayin
 
I have sold some of my Antietam dug minie balls on e bay in the past and have gotten close to that price.
 
It depends on the exact find location as well. I bought a roundball, dug by Mike Conklin, just off of NPS boundary where Laws brigade crossed, for $10. The flat three ringer I posted above was the same price. The Little Roundtop mini ball I also posted was closer to $30 because it was a soldier who picked it up. My Culps hill bullet was about $15.

Now mind you, these had written letters of provenance, with histories of how the bullet was acquired,, by who, and when. I also know Andy, and he doesn't buy anything from anyone unless he is absolutely sure of the authenticity of the provenance of the item.

Provenance is key.
 
@Virginia Dave, @redbob, @Lanyard Puller and @ucvrelics have taught me well. Listen to those boys on collecting, oh and Tom Hughes. You can't go wrong listening to them.

Last weekend I was at a tiny Civil War reenactment at our local history thing in Manchester, NH. I was looking at their tiny display (only displayed for the day) and I was very proud of myself because I was able to point out to the young man that in setting up their display, he mixed up his labels between Minie balls and canister shot. And you know what the best thing was? He agreed with me and didn't get all huffy with me! AND I got excited a couple of months ago at a museum where I could pick out a Tower of London Amory design on a rifle and knew instantly it was made in England. And it's all thanks to these guys being patient with me and answering all my crazy questions.
Good for you, congratulations.:wink:
 
a metal detector
Garrett AT Pro ... good machine and not to expensive.
And even I can figure out how to use the AT Pro. Plus its waterproof -- like you can submerse it in streams and when you find something and drop the entire machine into the stream it wont hurt it! Also a great feature when you're out and it starts to rain.
 
What price? $40? Was it an auction?
Yea it was a auction but I still wouldn't sell my minie balls that I dug for less than $ 18.00 each with the time it took to get permission the hours and days spent walking the fields to find a couple minie balls and the gasoline to get there $18.00 to $20.00 is reasonable.
 
Yea it was a auction but I still wouldn't sell my minie balls that I dug for less than $ 18.00 each with the time it took to get permission the hours and days spent walking the fields to find a couple minie balls and the gasoline to get there $18.00 to $20.00 is reasonable.


From the buyers perspective though, that's a lil' insane. I know the feeling of digging my own bullets (personally I would never sell them), and I'd sell them for that price too if it was me. I won't tell you how to sell your stuff, but a word of advice from one ebay seller to another, view it as the buyer views it.
 
100% correct provenance

Define 100% provenance. especially on a bullet. I don't buy bullets unless they are rare and if the rare ones have a provenance then fine but the rare ones really don't need a provenance as they are rare. With the help of my GOOD friend and sometimes banker redbob I just purchased the Rarest Confederate belt plate to come out of Gettysburg and when I tell you it had provenance it had provenance but even if it didn't it is still one of the most sought after CS State issue plate.
 
And even I can figure out how to use the AT Pro. Plus its waterproof -- like you can submerse it in streams and when you find something and drop the entire machine into the stream it wont hurt it! Also a great feature when you're out and it starts to rain.


That's cool! I never knew you detected. I've been thinking of buying either an Equinox 600, or an AT PRO, but I haven't made up my mind. I've seen both in action, and they are almost the same.
 
Define 100% provenance. especially on a bullet. I don't buy bullets unless they are rare and if the rare ones have a provenance then fine but the rare ones really don't need a provenance as they are rare. With the help of my GOOD friend and sometimes banker redbob I just purchased the Rarest Confederate belt plate to come out of Gettysburg and when I tell you it had provenance it had provenance but even if it didn't it is still one of the most sought after CS State issue plate.


Mississippi?


I collect both "weird" or variant bullets, but I only collect common bullets if they have sound, legitimate battlefield provenance. I can't afford rare battlefield pickups.
 
just purchased the Rarest Confederate belt plate to come out of Gettysburg and when I tell you it had provenance it had provenance but even if it didn't it is still one of the most sought after CS State issue plate.

We need pictures and provenance story with this one! How did Redbob help? Tell all!!!!
 
We need pictures and provenance story with this one! How did Redbob help? Tell all!!!!
No that is for another day. I'll give you a hint its oval and has 3 letters on the front and puppy paw hooks.
 
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