Unknown Item maybe a Badge... Any thoughts?

[Sherm_25]

Happy Veterans Day folks! Found this silver plated item at the sight of a former camp but is now a residential area. The item appears to be silver plated with a lead filled backing. There is no indication of having a pin attached and the lead is deteriorated showing old age. I've been calling it a badge, but have no idea. Is anybody familiar with these markings? I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you!

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy. Appears to be a deer head on bottom and a rabbit on top right. Thinking a hunting club emblem of sorts?

 

[1867crete]

Could you post some pictures of the back? Doesn't look military.....at least not US military but I am no expert.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Happy Veterans Day folks!

And a happy Veterans Day to you !

Welcome to the forums.

You have a very interesting item, but I'm also thinking it's not military.

 

[Sherm_25]

Thank you all for the replies! New to forums but am already addicted. Learning so much from the wealth of knowledge here. I will post pictures of the back as soon as I can get to my folks house where the item is. Thanks for the help!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Learning so much from the wealth of knowledge here. I will post pictures of the back as soon as I can get to my folks house where the item is. Thanks for the help!

There's quite a bit of information on CivilWarTalk . . . about any topic you could imagine.

 

[Patrick H]

Hi and welcome. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your item, too. I think all the animal heads are deer, but they are somewhat stylized. It's a coat of arms of some sort, but for what purpose I can't say.

 

[mofederal]

Hello and welcome to the talk forum from Southeast Missouri on the muddy banks of the Mississippi River. It looks like a military D.I. It is made of lead, could be fraternity coat of arms, a family, or from an organization. I would say it is older, being made of lead. A photo of the back is needed.

 

[Sherm_25]

Here is the back of the mysterious pin or badge. It does make sense that this would be some sort of coat of arms. The area where this was found would have been early war. Is it possible this would have been a civilian item that a soldier was carrying/wearing? Again thanks for all of your thoughts!

 

[Patrick H]

In addition to the large dimple on the back, I can see four very small dimples equally spaced around the edge where it used to be attached to something. In each of those dimples, there is the remnant of a very small metal stud. I also see what looks like part of a circular shiny line that might have extended around the large dimple at one time. That's probably contact wear from whatever was attached to it. I'm afraid I don't have much of a clue beyond that. Maybe an ornament from a leather strap?

Coming back to add a thought: Do you see any remnants of solder on the back? Maybe it was soldered to something that is now missing--like a pin for attaching it to clothing, or a hat, etc.

 

[WJC]

Happy Veterans Day folks! Found this silver plated item at the sight of a former camp but is now a residential area. The item appears to be silver plated with a lead filled backing. There is no indication of having a pin attached and the lead is deteriorated showing old age. I've been calling it a badge, but have no idea. Is anybody familiar with these markings? I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you!

It appears to be a family or institutional crest. I believe that the heraldic description would be "Vert, a chevron between three bucks at gaze". This was the arms of the Marquess of Ripon, an honour created in 1871 and held by members of the Robinson family.
Whether this artifact was owned by someone related to that family, or just something someone had made or purchased because they liked the look, is difficult to say.

 

[Sherm_25]

In addition to the large dimple on the back, I can see four very small dimples equally spaced around the edge where it used to be attached to something. In each of those dimples, there is the remnant of a very small metal stud. I also see what looks like part of a circular shiny line that might have extended around the large dimple at one time. That's probably contact wear from whatever was attached to it. I'm afraid I don't have much of a clue beyond that. Maybe an ornament from a leather strap?

Coming back to add a thought: Do you see any remnants of solder on the back? Maybe it was soldered to something that is now missing--like a pin for attaching it to clothing, or a hat, etc.[/QUOTE

I can't see any indication of solder, but I feel sure it would have had a way to attached it to something. Good eye on seeing those smaller indents at corners. I hadn't noticed those. Thanks for the help!

 

[Sherm_25]

It appears to be a family or institutional crest. I believe that the heraldic description would be "Vert, a chevron between three bucks at gaze". This was the arms of the Marquess of Ripon, an honour created in 1871 and held by members of the Robinson family.
Whether this artifact was owned by someone related to that family, or just something someone had made or purchased because they liked the look, is difficult to say.

I think you are definitely onto something about it being a coat of arms or crest. This has to be what it is. Unfortunately, may never know if it was war era or post war. If this crest wasn't created until 1871 maybe I should research early families of the area and see if Robinson appears locally. Thanks for the help!

 

[WJC]

I think you are definitely onto something about it being a coat of arms or crest. This has to be what it is. Unfortunately, may never know if it was war era or post war. If this crest wasn't created until 1871 maybe I should research early families of the area and see if Robinson appears locally. Thanks for the help!

Thanks for your response.
Remember, it's only my guess. It might be a more modern item fashioned after that coat of arms simply because someone liked it. Sometimes modern items get mixed into old sites.

 

[mofederal]

I still like it, I would say it was cast, lead, it may very well have been a pin. You are right modern items are often found with older items. A lot of crests, family and otherwise are registered. The design could easily be listed online.

 

[Package4]

Happy Veterans Day folks! Found this silver plated item at the sight of a former camp but is now a residential area. The item appears to be silver plated with a lead filled backing. There is no indication of having a pin attached and the lead is deteriorated showing old age. I've been calling it a badge, but have no idea. Is anybody familiar with these markings? I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you!

Looks to be more like a family crest or as previously mentioned possibly a hunting emblem. The only "stag" emblem that I am aware, was for Vermont and it was of a profile view and not a head on view, it was also usually accompanied by a pine tree.

 

[Jimklag]

Happy Veterans Day folks! Found this silver plated item at the sight of a former camp but is now a residential area. The item appears to be silver plated with a lead filled backing. There is no indication of having a pin attached and the lead is deteriorated showing old age. I've been calling it a badge, but have no idea. Is anybody familiar with these markings? I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you!

Welcome, Sherm. If you get a chance, come by and visit the Railroads and Steam Locomotives forum.