Pewter Confederate belt buckle on display at Kinston-Lenoir County Visitors Center

The Kinston-Lenoir County Visitors and Information Center has become a repository for Civil War artifacts since it opened two years ago, but a treasured item among collectors has now found a temporary home there.

Matt Jones, proprietor of Winterville-based We Dig Dixie, found a Confederate belt buckle on private land in Lenoir County about six weeks ago and brought it to Lenoir County Tourism Director Lucy Marston, who operates the Visitor Center.

“It’s a very significant find, and it’s a very rare find,” Marston said of the belt buckle.

Jones said Thursday that it is common for relic hunters to find Civil War-era buttons, bullets and other items, but “it’s really hard to find a belt buckle period, and any time you find one your nerves get a little tore up and you do a little happy dance.”

He said the buckle is hand-made from pewter, manufactured at the Nobles Bros.’ factory in Rome, Ga.; Jones estimated it was issued in 1861 or 1862.

“Almost every relic hunter’s dream is to find a belt buckle of some sort,” he said.

Jones said the buckle he found — using a metal detector — is even rarer because it is largely intact, with only the “A” missing from the “C.S.A.” logo.

He said many pewter buckles are found “broken in half” because “pewter disintegrates in the ground so fast.”

Marston said the buckle is on loan to the Visitor Center and will be on display indefinitely. She is encouraging visitors to see it during the holidays, though.

“I just wanted local folks to know through the holidays that this is here, it’s very rare, it’s very unusual,” she said.

David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.

FYI
We Dig Dixie is a team of relic hunters, led by Matt Jones, who travel throughout the eastern U.S. searching for Civil War artifacts. Once found, the relics are donated to museums or other community institutions. For more information, visit wedigdixie.net or call 252-378-8363.

See it for yourself
The Kinston-Lenoir County Visitors and Information Center is located at the intersection of U.S. 70 East and U.S. 258 South. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information call 252-522-0004.