Tips on Civil War Artifact Collecting

Historical collectibles are referred to as artifacts, relics, or antiques. Whatever term preferred, Civil War collectibles can be a fun and financially rewarding hobby for both the novice and historical expert. Items can range in value and price from $1.00 to $100,000, depending upon the artifact, its condition, and rarity factor.

Many Civil War collectibles are ‘dug' or excavated, usually found with a metal detector. The most common relic is the simple lead bullet, also known as the minie ball. The minie ball term is a misnomer, however, because there were over 5,500 different types of bullets used during the Civil War. The typical or standard minie ball is a .58 caliber 3-ringer, used by both the Union and Confederate armies. Because this item is the most commonly found bullet, it is also the cheapest, usually selling for $1.00 to $2.00.

The more uncommon a Civil War artifact, the higher the value and price. For example, the bullet known as the ‘teardrop' was used only by the Confederacy. Because any Confederate item is more rare than the Union equivalent (as Rhett Butler stated in Gone With the Wind, the South really didn't have any factories), the value of Confederate artifacts is usually worth much more than a Union artifact. ‘Teardrop' bullets have appreciated in value about 300% over the past decade.

Condition and rarity determine the value of the Civil War era artifact. A Springfield rifle in a ‘9' condition level will command a higher price than a Tower Enfield in a ‘7' condition, although the Tower is usually more desired by the serious Civil War collector than the Springfield because there were fewer Tower Enfields manufactured and their rarity factor is higher.