Help ID Stick/Hat Pin

[rockysgoldandsilver]

Does anyone know anything about this stick/hat pin. It looks to be civil war era with the style of the eagle, maybe confederate? I can't find any eagles that are holding the arrows and scrolls in talons or with the star on top of the wing. Maybe it's a patriotic piece? Any info would be appreciated!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I don't believe it's Confederate, as the stars and stripes appear on the shield.
Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

 

[28thNewYork]

Greetings and welcome from Atlanta.

 

[101combatvet]

Very nice! Post a picture of the back if you can.

 

[chellers]

Welcome from East Texas.

 

[rockysgoldandsilver]

Thanks everybody! Here is a picture of the back

 

[101combatvet]

The style of the eagle looks pre-Civil War to me. Is it made of brass?

 

[rockysgoldandsilver]

The style of the eagle looks pre-Civil War to me. Is it made of brass?

I'm assuming it's brass but I guess it could be some type of metal with a gilded finish? What about the style makes you think it may be pre civil war?

 

[major bill]

I hope some one comes along soon and tells us about it. The eagle looks a bit like the style used during the War of 1812. I have looked trough several reference books on U.S. military insignia and not found anything like it. I have not found a star on the wing. I have not found such a small shield. What ever the eagle is holding in its right (our left) talons stumps me. The talons on the right and left are very different and it almost looks like the right talons with olive branches were cut off and this added.

 

[rockysgoldandsilver]

I hope some one comes along soon and tells us about it. The eagle looks a bit like the style used during the War of 1812. I have looked trough several reference books on U.S. military insignia and not found anything like it. I have not found a star on the wing. I have not found such a small shield. What ever the eagle is holding in its right (our left) talons stumps me. The talons on the right and left are very different and it almost looks like the right talons with olive branches were cut off and this added.

If you look on the back you can tell that nothing was added as it's one solid piece. The eagle is holding arrows and a scroll (which i have never seen). Its stumped me!

 

[major bill]

Yes it did appear to be one piece. But because the details change it almost looks like the die was reworked. Thank you for informing us it is a scroll as I am sure this has some meaning. What adding the scroll means is unknown to me. I checked Smithsonian Institution's American Military Insignia 1800-1851, a reasonably good reference, and did not find either the scroll or the small shield. William Emerson is one of the nation's top people when it comes to U.S. military insignia, perhaps he would know. Do you have a way to contact him?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Here's my theory,
Is it possibly a Federalist campaign pin from the election of 1800 ?
I've only found an example of the scroll in this political cartoon.

Jefferson Attacked as an Infidel

During the presidential campaign of 1800, the Federalists attacked Thomas Jefferson as an infidel, claiming that Jefferson's intoxication with the religious and political extremism of the French Revolution disqualified him from public office. In this cartoon, the eye of God has instigated the American eagle to snatch from Jefferson's hand the "Constitution & Independence" of the United States before he can cast it on an "Altar to Gallic Despotism," whose flames are being fed by the writings of Thomas Paine, Helvetius, Rousseau, and other freethinkers. The paper, "To Mazzei," dropping from Jefferson's right hand, was a 1796 letter that was interpreted by Jefferson's enemies as an indictment of the character of George Washington.

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06-2.html

 

[101combatvet]

I'm assuming it's brass but I guess it could be some type of metal with a gilded finish? What about the style makes you think it may be pre civil war?

The style reminds me of eagle motifs of that period. It's a stickpin not a military insignia pin. I would classify it as a patriotic emblem probably used to secure a gentleman's carvat.

 

[rockysgoldandsilver]

Thanks for that info combatvet! It def. looks similar to that illustration (thats the first eagle with a scroll that i've seen).

 

[rockysgoldandsilver]

Yes it did appear to be one piece. But because the details change it almost looks like the die was reworked. Thank you for informing us it is a scroll as I am sure this has some meaning. What adding the scroll means is unknown to me. I checked Smithsonian Institution's American Military Insignia 1800-1851, a reasonably good reference, and did not find either the scroll or the small shield. William Emerson is one of the nation's top people when it comes to U.S. military insignia, perhaps he would know. Do you have a way to contact him?

No I'm not sure who William Emerson

 

[major bill]

I was referring to Col. William Emerson, the author of the book Encyclopedia of the United States Army Insignia and Uniforms and the book Chevrons: Illustrated History and Catalog of U.S. Army Insignia as well as many magazine articles. I think he still sells U.S. insignia at some military shows. William Emerson is known as expert on U.S. Army insignia, and he did literally write the Encyclopedia on U.S. Army Insignia.

 

[E_just_E]

Hi folks, newbie here.

If I were to venture a guess is that it is related to the Texas Annexation, with the eagle holding the Tyler-Texas treaty along with the arrows on his talons and bringing the lone star state into the Union with his beak. The eagle is in the mode and based on of the contemporary seated liberty coinage (of course that one has no star and he is holding an olive branch on his right talon instead of a scroll,) an image that people were seeing on a daily basis...

Interesting piece

Expired Image Removed

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Hi folks, newbie here.

If I were to venture a guess is that it is related to the Texas Annexation, with the eagle holding the Tyler-Texas treaty along with the arrows on his talons and bringing the lone star state into the Union with his beak. The eagle is in the mode and based on of the contemporary seated liberty coinage (of course that one has no star and he is holding an olive branch on his right talon instead of a scroll,) an image that people were seeing on a daily basis...

Interesting piece

Expired Image Removed

Very interesting theory.
Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

 

[rockysgoldandsilver]

Ahhh that is a very good point E! It does make since with the single star.

 

[rockysgoldandsilver]

I was referring to Col. William Emerson, the author of the book Encyclopedia of the United States Army Insignia and Uniforms and the book Chevrons: Illustrated History and Catalog of U.S. Army Insignia as well as many magazine articles. I think he still sells U.S. insignia at some military shows. William Emerson is known as expert on U.S. Army insignia, and he did literally write the Encyclopedia on U.S. Army Insignia.

Do you know if there is a way to contact him?