A new club member, Michelle Batton and I took a small road trip to the Grand Rapids, MI area to do some detecting while my exchange student from Hong Kong was taking a test in that area. We drove down a dead end street and a beautiful 1800's home was waiting at the end of the block. After receiving permission from the owner, we set out on our searching the yard. We found some clad coins, wheaties and other items, but nothing to write home about. While detecting the back yard I received a really nice tone. After pinpointing I started to dig. I dug down around 6-7" and checked the hole w/ my probe... Nothing. So I ran the coil over again and it rang off... and very sweet!! I dug down a few more inches and used the probe again. This time it to sang out. I was down about 10" now and figured that it was maybe a pipe to the house or something, but I continued the dig. 3 more inches down my hand digger made contact. I carefully dug around the target. At first I didn't think it would be anything but junk.... but then it started taking shape. It seemed to be square or rectangle in shape. I dug underneath and on the side, finally being able to move it. Now my adrenalin was pushing thru....! I managed to break it loose from the earths grip... pulling it out I noticed a beautiful eagle looking up at me and it was old. I walked quickly over to Michelle to show her the treasure, still not realizing what it was that I had. My heart was pounding as I dialed my good friend and president of our club, Mike Walker. I described it to him.... I couldn't believe my ears as he said that it sounds like I found me an officers sword belt plate. After some research, I found that it was an 1874 Officers Sword Belt Plate. I usually take at least one trip down south to VA or SC for Civil War relic hunts and never did I find a plate..... Although it is post-Civil War, It was sitting in almost my back yard. Thomas Cleary - MI, USA