Did anyone see this Civil War identification badge sell on eBay just now?
DCW
Posts: 7,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
It was a beauty! And a Jersey guy like me, which made my trigger finger itchy as I watched the final seconds tick tock on the auction. Where it landed floored me: $5350
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/233264260000
A few things:
1. It was badge with historical info on the soldier, in this case killed in action at Gettysburg, and it came with a photo. Rare to have a face with the name.
2. The soldier probably was not wearing this particular badge when killed, as he had been promoted to Captain and transferred to another company within the regiment.
3. The seller listed it as 14kt gold over silver, which I have a hard time believing. Probably silver plated tin, possibly gilt on the interior badge.
4. There were 12 bidders, 3 of which pushed this artifact north of $4k in the last 3 seconds and 2 bidders that came wanted it at $5300!
A great piece of American history and a price that I've not seen on one of these. If money was no object, this would be mine.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Comments
That is outstanding! Such a great piece. It did go for a boatload of money but like you said you almost never get a face to go with it.......
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
Right on the eve of the anniversary of Gettysburg, too.
Wow... super piece of history and combined with the picture it is rare....I can understand why it went so high... avid collectors really seek this type of memorabilia.... Would not be surprised to see it go higher if offered again. Cheers, RickO
Did it come with any provenance besides a picture? There are hundreds of 'identified' Civil War officer pictures owned and on the market today.
I would have been the underbidder!
By a lot
BHNC #203
Did you see the auction? The officer's picture was taken from the book "The Faces of Gettysburg." He gave his life there
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
I never even knew these badges existed!
You answered my question: "The officers picture _was taken from the book "The Faces of Gettysburg."___
These photos come from the National Park library I believe. Now Google the word "provenance".
As a life long collector of Civil War artifacts, a reenactor for many years (149th Pennsylvania Regime Volunteer Infantry) and a Pennsylvanian living 80 miles from Gettysburg I've purchased many items but nothing that could equal this. Provenance is a record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality.
plural noun: provenances
The picture is a copy from a book which are copies from the Gettysburg National Park Museum Library. The picture is not provenance. I think the bidders should have read the sellers feedback.
Indeed. I have no idea if this badge is real or not. Not my field of expertise.
However, if I were in the business of making fakes, I might start with a known identity and then make a fake to match it. It is suspected that some of the fake California gold rush ingots were made to match the names of people mentioned in contemporary newspapers.
@DCW great historical artifact! Thanks for posting it. The additional information really brings you back to the times. The photo is a great association with this piece. I’m a big fan of pieces that have directly attributable history.
@CaptHenway Very sobering. Given the historical information on the holder, I wonder if any information in this badge is available either for this person or persons in his same, earlier company.
Yes, I know what the word "provenance" means. Just because the seller did not state the provenance, doesnt mean the piece has none documented. Who knows? I didnt buy it.
A few reasons I do not question the authenticity of this piece:
An interesting piece, regardless of where you stand. Thanks for looking
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
@DCW As I said, I have no expertise in the matter, and am unqualified to say if the piece is original or not. FWIW I see nothing wrong with it, but that proves nothing.
The engraving does indeed match the style of the 1860's. One would expect a faker to attempt to match that style. Perhaps it could be imitated with practice. I don't know.
The fake California ingots were punched with genuine letter and number punches from the 19th Century. The alleged faker allegedly made a search for such vintage punches in antique shops. That is one way to copy a vintage style. Hand engraving is of course more difficult.
As to the toning pattern, I find the selective polishing to be somewhat disconcerting. I personally would expect the entire face to have been polished by whoever polished it. The toned border looks a bit deliberate to me.
Thanks for all the comments. In you spare time please Google Civil War Forums - Civil War fakes or just Google Civil War relics fakes. Might get a surprise.
Now that I understand "provenance," I'll get right on it!
Boy, am I getting an education today. Not my first day here, Alex.
I would like to know what makes you think the piece I linked to is a fake, though. If you really believe it is and are not simply a contrarian.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
that IS a good piece of history, I like
DCW: I do NOT know if this item is a fake. The fact that there are NO historical documents connecting this to the officer in the picture is suspicious. Where is a letter from the officer's family, or descendants? Where is there any proof the officer in question ever owned this 'badge'. In all my years of collecting Civil War artifacts I have never encountered anything of this magnitude save for a model 1861 Colt Navy that was said to have been given to a person's family ancestor during the battle of Gettysburg by General George Meade. There was a letter from the soldier and from Colt Inc. to go with it. The buyer, hopefully will have some experts look at it.
DC: If you get a chance pm me. Thanks.