Help Please

[Mcr128773]

Hi my name is Mike and I was Metal Detecting in Petersburg VA. I found a 1780 Spanish Reale with the name J.Bell counter stamped on it. I was wondering if anyone could help me identify who J.Bell is

 

[E_just_E]

Welcome. A picture would really help with this.

 

[chellers]

Welcome to CivilWarTalk. We would love to see some photos.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Howdy and Welcome!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Welcome, I hope some of our members will be able to help with your question.

 

[Patrick H]

Welcome. Yes, please post pictures.

 

[PeterT]

Welcome from Melbourne Australia!

 

[Gettysburg Echos]

Hi my name is Mike and I was Metal Detecting in Petersburg VA. I found a 1780 Spanish Reale with the name J.Bell counter stamped on it. I was wondering if anyone could help me identify who J.Bell is

Hello Mike and Welcome. The short answer is that a merchant would come to the mint and purchase ... for the office of assayer, and the assayer put their initials or name on the coins as they were treated as commodities. The importance of these coins in the Colonies cannot be overstated. It is a well documented interesting subject with tons of information that cannot be covered here. So without being long winded it is most likely the name of the Assayer or his agent. I hope this helps.

 

[CMWinkler]

Welcome.

 

[Gettysburg Echos]

Welcome.

My Latin is rusty but...no one attacks with impunity ???

 

[CMWinkler]

My Latin is rusty but...no one attacks with impunity ???

Basically, yes. The motto of the Stuarts and used by some regiments in the British Army.

 

[Mcr128773]

Hello Mike and Welcome. The short answer is that a merchant would come to the mint and purchase ... for the office of assayer, and the assayer put their initials or name on the coins as they were treated as commodities. The importance of these coins in the Colonies cannot be overstated. It is a well documented interesting subject with tons of information that cannot be covered here. So without being long winded it is most likely the name of the Assayer or his agent. I hope this helps.

So there's no way this could be a dog tag of a soldier that fought in the war? There was a John Bell Hood who would of been in the area I was at

 

[Mcr128773]

Hello Mike and Welcome. The short answer is that a merchant would come to the mint and purchase ... for the office of assayer, and the assayer put their initials or name on the coins as they were treated as commodities. The importance of these coins in the Colonies cannot be overstated. It is a well documented interesting subject with tons of information that cannot be covered here. So without being long winded it is most likely the name of the Assayer or his agent. I hope this helps.

Is there a book or a place on the internet that I could get more info on this?

 

[Mcr128773]

Here is the front of the coin

 

[Mcr128773]

Welcome. A picture would really help with this.

 

[Mcr128773]

I was detecting Behind the house that was General George Pickett's headquarters during the civil war. My cousin owns the home now and is in the process of restoring it

 

[E_just_E]

You got yourself a Civil War "dog tag". Nice find.

 

[Mcr128773]

You got yourself a Civil War "dog tag". Nice find.

If I can prove its a dog tag and who J.Bell was it would be worth a lot more money. I need help!!

 

[Mcr128773]

You got yourself a Civil War "dog tag". Nice find.

This is all the stuff I found at the same location

 

[Frederick14Va]

What some may refer to as dog or ID tags, generally were sutler purchased.. or self made... Most that appear to be home made typically will use an old coin.. however majority are usually found hand engraved... Sutler wares are frequently found to be metal stamped... using individual character dies.... Most will also have their respective unit/regiment included on the tag...... However this relic appears that the metal stamp in question was one single piece die... which had the full name on it... These types of stamps are more commonly found associated with machinists, merchants, and other venders whereas they may have desire or need to mark their manufactured goods... So already had such a die stamp... I have seen other coins marked similar to this, that were used as luggage tags.. or hang on a watch fob....

Interesting relic.... absolutely... Can it be contributed to a civil war soldier... would be very difficult... Most likely a personal item of a citizen that might have been from Petersburg area.. or could just as easily been passing through the area... Not uncommon especially around the older historical communities to find various items that span a very wide time range in the same area...

Cant see the items in your image but so well but appears you may have two period Spencer bullets on the far left.. the others in that row appear to be modern era... what appears to be an intact 32 short... and some 22 short shell casings.... Some indian head pennies.. cant tell what the others are..