#120-CIVIL WAR SALE: DOG TAG RARE "AGAINST THE REBELLION"

This is one of two very rare dog tags included in this sale. These were issued privately as the U.S. government had not yet created actual dog tags for those in any branches of the military.

There are some modern facsimile dog tags in the marketplace but none that have copied this one--yet! Just as the number of facsimile coins has skyrocketed, I'm afraid other collectible items will soon not be just copied, but fraudulently counterfeited and blatantly offered as the real thing. We used to see a few U.S. silver dollars from China in the last two or three years ago, but the rising price of silver has helped fuel the counterfeit business.

This dog tag is blank on the reverse where many Union soldiers used the space to have their name and unit inscribed. Name and a list of battles in which the soldier fought were the common theme for these. Soldiers were very aware of the thousands of "Unknown Union/Confederate" soldiers buried in group graves or in hastily dug graves after battles to prevent any small insects or larger animals to spread disease. Having a dog tag would ensure the body would be ID'd and ultimately, the remains sent home to family.

To that end there were multiple embalmers who did their brisk business out of tent and wagon, stopping wherever battles took place and once embalmed, the bodies would be shipped back home for burial.

OFFERS CONSIDERED
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