CONFEDERATE 2.9” EXPERMINTAL SHELL HEAD, BELLE ISLAND RICHMOND 1861

Description

CONFEDERATE 2.9” EXPERMINTAL SHELL HEAD, BELLE ISLAND RICHMOND 1861
This is by far the most unusual artillery projectile fragment I have ever seen!                                 It was found by the famous collector & author Mac Mason on the north eastern corner of Belle Island opposite Tredegar Armory in Richmond, Virginia in 1947. This area was used from April 1861 to February 1862 as an artillery range by the Tredegar Armory before it became a P.O.W camp in 1862.                                                                                                                                 The shell top is not the usual iron but appears to be made of some kind of VERY HARD lead mixture.                                                                                                                                         It is 2 11/16” long x 2 7/8” in diameter & a 1 1/16” hole on the top that was closed & a 1 1/8” hole on the side that blew out when the shell exploded.                                                                   It is in fair condition  with a very dark gray patina
Mac Mason was a very well known early relic hunter in the Richmond Virginia area & found a lot of relics during his 30 + years of relic hunting.
He had a very large collection of artillery projectiles & bullets.
I bought it from a well respected collector that had bought it directly from Mac in the 1970’s & who told me the story of where it was found as told to him by Mac.