Virginia Militia Button

[West Jersey Detecting]

I finally got out! The temps were in the 50's, but the ground was still solid in many spots. I had a real tough time excavating this Virginia Militia button due to the frozen ground. The hard ground contributed to the ding I made with my Lesch. This is the first time in more than 5 years that I damaged one of my digs. I think I will wait until the ground thaws a bit more before I go out again.

The back mark is Horstman*Philadelphia. I think it is post Civil War. Any help with ID is appreciated!

 

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[cntrydncr1]

Really nice button Neil. I was thinking it was so nice today...but like you said the ground is touch.

 

[wildheart]

According to the Button Back Marks site, any one marked HORSTMANN / PHILADELPHIA was made between 1893-1935, so you're right on the post-CW guess. However, if you look at the banner running underneath the figure, it reads "Semper Tyrannis" - that's what John Wilkes Booth yelled after killing Lincoln as he leaped off the stage at Ford's Theater and broke his leg upon landing. So my guess is it could be a CW-era or soon thereafter, from a Confederate state. Since you're in VA, probably a home state button? Hope this is helpful -- I'm no expert.

 

[PBK]

However, if you look at the banner running underneath the figure, it reads "Semper Tyrannis" - that's what John Wilkes Booth yelled after killing Lincoln as he leaped off the stage at Ford's Theater and broke his leg upon landing. So my guess is it could be a CW-era or soon thereafter, from a Confederate state.

Sic Semper Tyrannis ("Thus ever to tyrants") is the state motto of Virginia... has been since 1776.

It's also what Brutus is supposed to have said at the assassination of Caesar.

 

[Digginman]

Great button. I found one a couple of years ago. Yours is much nicer, Neil.

Congrats.

DM

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Since you're in VA, probably a home state button?

I am in New Jersey, so this is definitely an unusual find for my area. The site has given up coins from the 1890's to the early 20th century, so I would date this button from that era.

Thanks for your help!
Neil

 

[seger98]

It's a very nice button, what is something like that worth?


Chris

 

[collector01]

Congrats on a nice button!

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

It's a very nice button, what is something like that worth?


Chris

It is definitely worth less than before I hit it with my shovel! Being post Civil War would leave me to believe that it is a fairly common button. It is, however, an unusual find for my area.

 

[BuckleBoy]

It's a very nice button, what is something like that worth?


Chris

It is definitely worth less than before I hit it with my shovel!  Being post Civil War would leave me to believe that it is a fairly common button.  It is, however, an unusual find for my area.

Not worth that much--but not a find one could ever hope to repeat.  I grew up not far from VMI--and I never got my coil over one in 10 years of diggin there. 


If it was a CW backmark it would be a $$$ button   


Oh--and be sure to dig carefully. The next plug may be a find of a lifetime!



Best Wishes,



Buckles

 

[hogge]

Nice find Neil. Glad you guys are still huntin' down there. We are buried up here.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Nice find Neil. Glad you guys are still huntin' down there. We are buried up here.

Thanks Hogge. Our warm spell is about to end tho. Back into the 30's into early next week. We still haven't gotten any snow!

 

[JerV3]

That's a nice button Neil.

I love to find those old millitary buttons.

HH Jer

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

It's a very nice button, what is something like that worth?


Chris

It is definitely worth less than before I hit it with my shovel! Being post Civil War would leave me to believe that it is a fairly common button. It is, however, an unusual find for my area.

Not worth that much--but not a find one could ever hope to repeat. I grew up not far from VMI--and I never got my coil over one in 10 years of diggin there.


If it was a CW backmark it would be a $$$ button


Oh--and be sure to dig carefully. The next plug may be a find of a lifetime!



Best Wishes,



Buckles

Thanks BB

Like I said in my original post, I have not damaged a single find in many years. The frozen ground caused the shovel to slip. I will not be out again until there is a true thaw. One or two warm days is not enough to soften the ground. I guess I should look into the Estwing that Don mentioned in his post. My Lesch always comes through for me when it comes to roots and such, but I guess it just doesn't "cut it" when it comes to frozen ground!

Here is the back mark: Definitely 1890-1920 based on the shank as well as the other finds from the site.

 

[crazyjarhead]

Nice find, Neil

 

[{Sentinel}]

Nice Virginia Staff

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

According to the Button Back Marks site, any one marked HORSTMANN / PHILADELPHIA was made between 1893-1935, so you're right on the post-CW guess. However, if you look at the banner running underneath the figure, it reads "Semper Tyrannis" - that's what John Wilkes Booth yelled after killing Lincoln as he leaped off the stage at Ford's Theater and broke his leg upon landing. So my guess is it could be a CW-era or soon thereafter, from a Confederate state. Since you're in VA, probably a home state button? Hope this is helpful -- I'm no expert.

After some thought, I was curious what role the militia took in each state after the Civil War. It turns out that the Militia became a volunteer force soon after the war. The Militia was incorporated into the VA National Guard at some point, most likely around 1917. According to the VA National Guard site:

In response to the 1917 federalization of the Virginia National Guard, the Commonwealth of Virginia created the Virginia State Volunteers to support civil authorities. Soon renamed the Virginia Volunteers, the group guarded bridges, waterways, fuel storage areas, and public buildings and facilities during the war years, armed with surplus weapons dating back to 1876. With the return of the National Guard units after World War I, the last company of the Virginia Volunteers was deactivated in 1921. A total of 1,300 Virginians served in the Virginia Volunteers from 1917 to 1921.

Even though the back mark was used by Horstmann until 1935, this button most likely pre dates 1921

 

[Nana40]

GREAT button, Neil! Spring will be here before ya know it.

Nana

 

[wildheart]

Neil, nice bit of followup research, and very interesting! That's one of the parts I like best. And PBK, yep - SIC semper tyrannis it is - I stand corrected and wondering where my head was at. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[lovedigging]

Great find, I live in Virginia and have not yet found a virginia button. Congratulations