Help ID ?

[MetalMike]

Found a new CS site today along Gen. Lee's retreat from Gettysburg..
amongst all the CS items , was a "token" of some sort...
it is about the size of a dime and about twice as thick, it has the same patina as the bullets found around it, made of lead, one side is stamped "THE AC" the other side "THE CO"
any ideas?
thanks,
MetalMike
[attachment 12270 DSC00317.JPG]
[attachment 12272 DSC00318.JPG]

 

[SharkHunter]

n/t

 

[SGTLOWE]

Looks like a lead seal. Here is a pic of a few others for your refernce.

John

[attachment 12317 seals-b.jpg]

 

[MetalMike]

I feel dumb....I have found tons of pics of these on the internet , but no where does it tell me what they are or what they are used for.....any help on explanation ???
Thanks

 

[mdholedigger]

nice find mike i hope our other two buddies were able to walk away with a few things, sorry i missed hunting with ya all, i fear i missed the last day out with the weather turning all ugly on us. any how give me a call

later

 

[MetalMike]

I still have not found any info on bale seals.....
any help ???
Thanks,

 

[Tagamet]

MetalMike Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I feel dumb....I have found tons of pics of these
> on the internet , but no where does it tell me
> what they are or what they are used for.....any
> help on explanation ???
> Thanks

Apparently, they were used to seal bundles of goods, like textiles,just the way letters were sealed with wax and a stamp. There were "cloth seals" that were a bit like a double version of yours with a thin metal strip joining the two round halfs. These clamped on a string or cloth wound around the bundle. If intact, it was intended to show that all of the goods were there. The single, bale seals were attached to sturdier bundles, for the same purpose. (I THINK).
HTH,
Tagamet
And thanks for your service!

 

[MetalMike]

n/t