Alabama State Seal Confederate Civil War Plate: Real Relic or Fake ?

[@motorcyclemikele5856]

Fake or not, it's a cool buckle.

[@chrisackerley1842]

Re: the Alabama plate, I've collected old brass plates for a long time. It's hard to tell for certain but, if it's fake, they did a good job on the patina. I've seen this type of patina on brass that has been stored in a dry place, or buried in dry soil. If it was exposed to wind and rain, it would be green with verdigris. What makes me think it might be real are the wear makes on the reverse and the holes on either side, which are not identical. All of this makes me think this plate actually was mounted to something. I've been fooled before, but my money is on it being real. Nice piece.

[@robertwhite5671]

With the holes drilled into the sides it could’ve been used as a box plate,but it actually looks like a Hanover brass foundry plate to me,they’ve cast reproductions from original plates for many years

[@johngriffiths3952]

Been off the grid for a bit over a year, I couldn't reply but I loved watching the vids. Ty

[@metaldetectingwiththesilva8311]

I believe the Item you think is brass/copper is actually a bearing part made of a special type of Bronze. A guys in England finds these at mill sites when he is searching for Russian Flax seals.

[@jillybean9329]

U sure were right about the storm....they cancelled our flight home on Wed...lil nervous...this will be my 1st hurricane experience 😳😳😳😳😬

[@JoggyMorvin]

Amazing vid🤩 Thumbs up👍🏼

[@randomsecrets]

If you want to find out, and want an authentic original to compare it to, I would contact Fort Pillow State Historic Park in Tennessee. They have a couple (several types actually) Exactly like this one on display. I'm sure they would be interested in assisting to authenticate it. The proof would be in the pudding so to speak if compared to a known authentic side by side.

[@ExploringAlabama]

So far I have received many emails pointing both ways

[@jfseal38]

Is that a shard of bellermine jug on the table? They find them mudlarking on the Thames river (pronounced "Tems") in London. I'm pretty sure I remember you saying you watched Nicola White mudlarking over there. Color me curious. They are cool looking jugs. I was wondering how you got a piece of it all the way over here, unless someone sent it to you.

[@Dave-ty2qp]

The history of European influence goes back to the 1500's, when all or parts of the state was controlled by either Spain, France, or England. No telling where it originated. Interesting to know about the piece. Thanks John.

[@stevefamfive]

25.4 mm per inch. Multiply dimensions in inches by 25.4 to get dimensions in millimeters. Hope that helps.

[@dangealsha6069]

stevefamfive a

[@randyrichardson5325]

Yes please do let us know real or fake

[@MNpicker]

That is a sweet looking buckle regardless👍👍

[@montanagold59635]

You would think if it was a buckle ( brass stamped and lead filled back ) like all the others. There would be remnants of the puppy paw sticking out.

[@katbot2190]

Take it to Antiques Roadshow :D I hope you find out for sure that it's real.

[@spermdonar]

All these questions ..sigh..I don't know..

[@brandonstewart5877]

Hanover Brass Foundry makes reproduction buckles. They look like the back has something tapped into the metal, and their models start with G. www.hanoverbrass.com/alabama.html

[@thebatzinator]

What is that brown piece of pottery (?) to the left of the iPhone?? It looks like maybe it's a buffola eye... anyway, can I buy it from you??

[@ExploringAlabama]

not sure what it is, just inner city creek treasure. Email me your address [e-mail], it's yours, you can have it

[@thebatzinator]

@@ExploringAlabama AWESOME!!! Thank you!!! I'm going to wirewrap it and make it into a necklace!!

[@Ржавыеликивойны]

Good video, good luck!

[@lidymaehoward6726]

How come I have voice but no picture?

[@diggingnashvegas]

I've dug a brass block I button, was very green, it does have a square shank, but I hate to say yours looks fake

[@ep61611]

I'm no expert in Civil War artifacts, but with just a little time comparing plates, I can safely say I agree with you that this is a fake (reproduction). You can tell by the lack of detail. It's more readily discernable when looking at counterfeit coins, but once you know the principles, there isn't that much of a difference. When they make reproductions from stamped originals, the metal isn't able to get into the tiniest of crevices, and will thus only catch the design detail of just the main portion of the piece. You might also be interested in knowing that the text you wondered about should say "Map of Alabama". Whether this was a high spot that wore off or just not able to pick up the detail of the casting, I couldn't say.

[@TheNimshew]

57mm = 2 1/4" 88mm = 3 1/2" not all were filled with lead. some were cast in brass

[@ExploringAlabama]

thanks

[@tanyakintz1931]

Antiques Road Show people can tail you what you near to know Willy. 😄👍

[@randyrichardson5325]

Just googled it only loops on back no holes but loops could have broke off and had holes put in ut and wired back to cartridge box i has to repair my box plate and thats how i done from old pictures and sometimes the back plates would fall off and just be brass front lead back but solid brass i sont think so only officers got that fancy hardware and it always looked a tad different than footsoldier gear

[@sethneese9272]

Well was it real or fake?

[@ErlefromVa]

EA, Most Likely A Gary Williams reproduction, owner of Hanover Brass... here is your link: www.hanoverbrass.com/ Believe he stamps all plates with the initials GW, not sure about the date however. Take a look, pretty surer that's what you have!

[@mikegoodman447]

I am going to guess fake. Most were two sheets of copper with lead filled and hooks attached. If for some reason they cast the whole thing in brass they would have cast it with the hooks all as one piece. Since yours is brass and has no hooks cast into it I would really guesstimate it as a fake. Back then quality was pretty darn good. The holes in yours are crooked. Since I wasn't there, nobody told me, I am going to rely on Google because it's always right. Pure guess. Some fakes are worth good money since they are sometimes just as rare.

[@randyrichardson5325]

Here is a website contact hanover brass foundry at hanoverbrass.com he made some repros from solid brass because of epa regs on smelting lead

[@TheNimshew]

The 2 holes were done by someone later on? They're not even. Almost like a child took a real one that had lost its tabs and drilled the holes so that he/she(it's the 21st century) could attach it to a belt strap. Did you find examples that had the holes? And, why waste scarce metals by pouring lead into an already heavy belt plate?

[@diggingnashvegas]

Plate looks pewter to me

[@TheNimshew]

Intriguing. Sometimes these items aren't meant to deceive. They're replicas that, after time, get passed off as real. What's odd about your brass Alabama belt plate is the lack of the 3 tabs on the back. One would think those would be important to the piece, certainly if it was meant to deceive. The real ones I saw didn't always have Alabama on the scroll. But none had the 2 holes. Was it a crude casting done late in the war with holes in place of tabs? Was it a original casting w/o the tabs soldered on, never issued and modified decades later? Shrug. Shiney replicas sell for $25. To pass a fake off as real and then not have vital features included seems sort of stupid. Personally? I think it's authentic.

[@BrianOakesHaitiHunter]

On this web page they have a belt plate almost identical to yours; relicrecord.com/blog/civil-war-relics-on-display-in-south-carolina/ but there is definitely a difference in color between this one and yours. Is it because you didn't polish it? Also their's is a belt plate whereas your's looks like it was a box plate which would explain the small nail holes.

[@dadspiranha.pipeslogos4207]

Although I hope it is real for you could be nice in the bank account

[@RandolphRelicRecovery]

In my honest opinion I haven't a clue. Mail it! You need to know!

[@terryhall9159]

Randolph Relic Recovery .

[@heer4149]

It is a fake

[@dadspiranha.pipeslogos4207]

Think it’s real might be older because it’s brass .and no led in the middle could be first made .While the Economy was doing good might’ve been solid brass .during the war costs became more expensive .resulting in more led usage.Causing them to A lead seal with brass plating ?This was just a guess Pal ?I’m Canadian have no clue LOL

[@mrtojo7022]

fake

[@GoneDiggin]

110% fake!!!!

[@dadspiranha.pipeslogos4207]

2nd

[@Bimmerburner]

1st