Sgt Riker's Civil War Trading Post

Badges and Pins

 
18th Corps Super, Silver 18th Corps Badge, dug in King William County, Virginia. This is a thin stamped badge that lost its attachment pin and was drilled to maintain usage. This great insignia was found in a well-known bivouac area of the 18th Corps. Please take note of the remaining T-bar attachment. It was found by a local digger, Extra Billy Smith, 1st quarter 2007. The relic measures 1 ½ inches both ways. Yes, we did consider that it might be a Maryland Cross, so we sent photos via email to Mike Singer, who is of the opinion that this is an 18th Corps Badge. Your purchase is unconditionally guaranteed for my lifetime, (money back guarantee). A 3" x 4" Sgt. Riker Display Case (glass top) with a velveteen background displays this badge.
Item INS1002   $600.00 SOLD

 
5th Corps Duryea's Zouaves 5th New York Badge. Found Savage Station, Virginia, this small silver badge is from one of the hardest fighting Union Regiments of the Civil War. The stellar reputation of the 5th New York State Volunteers or better known as the Duryea's Zouaves, began during the 1862 Seven Days Campaign when George McClellan failed to capture the Confederate Capitol of Richmond Virginia. This badge was found along McClellan's retreat route in the area of the Battle of Savage Station in Eastern Henrico County, Virginia. I have attached a brief history of the regiment, but lets talk about this cool badge.

The badge is made of silver and appears to have had enamel paint on it originally. Traces of the paint remain on the front of the badge. I was able to find an exact badge (non-dug) like this one at www.civilwarbadges.com . That one still retains its enamel paint. As seen on the badge, this one also belonged to a member of Company K. The attachment pin on back is missing as seen in the pics. I have also provided a picture of the badge with a quarter for scale. This is one of the best Civil War badges I have seen. It was found by a local digger on private property with permission. Comes nicely displayed in a Sgt. Riker case. Satisfaction is guaranteed! Authenticity does not expire.
Item INS1007   $1195.00 SOLD

5th Regiment Infantry (Duryee's Zouaves) Organized at New York City and mustered in for two years' service May 9, 1861. Left State for Fortress Monroe, Va., May 23. Attached to Pierce's Brigade, Newport News, Va., Dept. of Virginia, to July, 1861. Dix's Division, Baltimore, Md., to March, 1862. Sykes' Infantry (Reserve), Army of the Potomac, May, 1862. 3rd Brigade, Sykes' 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to. May, 1863.

SERVICE.--Duty at Newport News, Va., May 25 to July 26, 1861. Action at Big Bethel June 10. Moved to Baltimore, Md., July 26, and duty there until April 11, 1862. Expedition through Accomac and Northampton Counties, Va., November 14-22, 1861. Moved to the Peninsula, Va., April 11, 1862. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 15-May 4. Reconnaissance to near Hanover Court House May 26. Hanover Court House May 27. Operations about Hanover Court House May 27-29. New Bridge June 5. Operations against Stuart June 13-15. Old Church June 13. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battle of Mechanicsville June 26. Battle of Gaines Mill June 27. (Note.--At Gaines Mill, under command of Lieut.-Col. Hiram Duryea, it faced a musketry fire which cut down one third of its men and won praises from all who witnessed its remarkable efficiency and drill while in the thickest of that fight. It was in that battle that after having received several deadly volleys it paused at one time, while still under fire, to count off anew so that its movements might not be deranged by the absence of the fallen men. At Manassas it took into action 490 men of whom 117 were killed or mortally wounded.) White Oak Swamp and Turkey Bend June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. Duty at Harrison's anding until August 15. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 15-28. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 28-September 2. Battle of Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Shephardstown Ford September 20. Duty in Maryland to October 29. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth until April. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Mustered out May 14, 1863, expiration of term. Recruits assigned to 146th New York Infantry.

Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 171 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 34 Enlisted men by disease. Total 211. 		 
Love Token 1853 Corps Badge or Love Token. I believe this is a love token but have been told by a couple of viewers that this may be a 1st Corps Badge. If you look at the engraved margins of the coin, you can certainly make that argument. Let's talk about what we do know for sure. This item, non-dug, is made from a pre-Civil War coin and the pin on the back has the T-bar type attachment. The initials (CI?) are untraceable but this relic remains as a pristine example of high quality soldier's art designed to be worthy of a lady's affection/or steadfast commitment to duty. Truly a beautiful piece.
Item INS1003   $450.00

 
Moline Wagon Pin Moline Wagon Company pin. Greyhound and wagon wheel image. This great brass pin was excavated near Richmond Virginia and is in excellent dug condition. Above the wheel "Moline Wagon Co." & below wheel "Light Running & Durable". About the size of a quarter. No attachment pin on back. The thin brass is intact and solid. Moline Wagon Company. In the early twentieth century, the Moline Wagon Company was the largest wagon manufacturer in the world. Its founder, James First, opened the wagon shop in 1854, and in 1869 sold it to Morris Rosenfield, who formed [Charles] Benser, Rosenfield and Company, with fifty employees. Buildings were enlarged and the named changed to the Moline Wagon Company in 1871. In 1881, Rosenfield began to distribute wagons through John Deere branch houses, having himself bought in interest in Deere, Wells & Company, Deere's Omaha branch. By 1908, the company was capitalized at $600,000, employing 500 workers with an average annual output of more 30,000 wagons. It was said that a new wagon was built every six minutes. John Deere bought the Moline Wagon Company in 1910.
Item INS1004   $35.00

 
Masonic ID Tag Masonic ID Tag once belonging to J. B. Eanis of Mouth of Wilson, Virginia (not Civil War period). On top, beside the hole (for the purpose of wearing), read the letters A. F. & A. M. The Masonic Compass and a G are near the top. At the bottom are three links of a chain. I don't know how old this tag is, but it was dug in a Civil War area in Central Virginia. The back is plain. Overall, a very nice, quarter-sized copper tag that was once silver-plated. (Traces of silver remain.) From the library of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, I received the following information: Mouth of Wilson Lodge was chartered in 1866. Eanis shows on the roster for Lodge No. 223 in 1884-1918. He served as Junior Warden in 1884 and 1889 and as Treasurer in 1886-1888, 1892-1893.
Item INS1005   $59.95

 
LawyerAward Tag John Wedderburn & Co. Patent Attorney Silver Medal, circa 1890. Apparently, John Wedderburn was a scoundrel who preyed on unsuspecting clients. This Sterling Silver presentation medallion is over layered with gold. The front is embossed: Presented by John Wedderburn & Co, Patent Attorneys, Washington, D.C., U. S. A. The back is marked Sterling, C. G. Braxmar, 10 Maiden Lane, New York. Initials that appear to be "SGR" have been superficially scratched into the silver on the back. (I would speculate this was to whom the medal was awarded.) I personally dug this piece about a mile from Beaverdam Station, Virginia in 2006. Comes in a handsome 3 x 4 x 3/4" Sgt. Riker case.
Item INS1006   $149.95