tombac buttons - how to identify??/

funkman

Bronze Member
Apr 19, 2006
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Middletown, NY
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I have some buttons that I have uncovered at a site that has given me coins and artifacts from the 1800's. The oldest coin I have is a large cent date 1811. The question I have is about how to identify if some of the buttons I have are tombac buttons or not. Most are flat with no words stamped on them. One has a shiny silver look to it and the shank was not attached but you can see where it used to be.

ANy help would be appreciated. If pics are needed I can post also.

Thanks

Funkman
 

BuckleBoy

Gold Member
Jun 12, 2006
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Moonlight and Magnolias
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Tombac buttons are shiny and brittle-looking. They are, in fact, brittle. The alloy they're made from (shiny looking, and reads lower than a brass button does on a detector) gives them their name. Here's a photo. Tombacs on the left:

Colonial House Site Buttons Front.jpg

Sometimes it takes a thorough cleaning to see the shiny metal underneath all the crud and corrosion. When I found these 2 on the left, they looked like iron.

Regards,

Buckleboy
 

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shanegalang

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Oct 31, 2007
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Island of Mozambique
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I have some buttons that I have uncovered at a site that has given me coins and artifacts from the 1800's. The oldest coin I have is a large cent date 1811. The question I have is about how to identify if some of the buttons I have are tombac buttons or not. Most are flat with no words stamped on them. One has a shiny silver look to it and the shank was not attached but you can see where it used to be.

ANy help would be appreciated. If pics are needed I can post also.

Thanks

Funkman
yeah, lets see some pix!!
 

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