My BEST flat button

[dcooper1]

Found this nice flat button today.? It is extremely detailed on the front, no marking on the back.? It is approximately the size of a silver dollar!!!!? Any suggestions on age would be appreciated.?

 

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[Mona Lisa]

I can't help you ID it but I can tell you that's a nice looking button!

 

[northeast hunter]

very nice looks old too...hope someone can put a date on it for you

 

[dcooper1]

Just changed the picture of the front, still doesn't quite do it justice. I have taken about 20 pictures trying to get a good one, this is the best I can get out of my camera. The detail on this thing is unreal. In the very center there are stars, starting small and getting bigger. Even the "dots" are all the same size and evenly spaced, how would they have made such a nice button.

BTW -- This was a classic example of DIG EVERYTHING if you're in a good area; I had just dug several shotgun shells, got another "shotgun shell signal", read 1 inch deep, flipped it over and there was this button!!!!!

 

[PBK]

Looks like one of the elaborately hand engraved and chased copper buttons made during the late 1700's. Some were also gilt & or painted. To see a few other examples, although not all as ornate as yours, scroll down to "db 10. COPPER BUTTONS OF THE 18TH CENTURY" at:

http://www.bluebirdbuttons.com/deluxebuttons.htm

There are also some nice ones in "Copper Buttons, 1770-1800," pp. 180-81, The Big Book of Buttons by Hughes & Lester.

 

[spotz]

Very nice button. Bet it made your day for you.
Spotz

 

[JakePhelps]

Awesome find Great detail too! Its prolly 1700's to early 1800's, how old was the site your detecting?

 

[dcooper1]

PBK - Thanks for the info, I was thinking late 1700's, I just cant believe how detailed it is, I sure wish the picture was better.

Hey Jake, nice to hear from you again.? I was detecting a wooded area near a road, one of the locals said there was a camp nearby during the civil war, I couldnt believe it when this thing rolled over.?

I just measured it, it's 1 3/8" across, I have about 100 flat buttons, I only have one other that is even close to being this big!!!

 

[JakePhelps]

from what i understand back then it was a sign of wealth/importance to wear fancy big buttons like this. Is there a backmark on it maybe? what about a mold seam on the back?

 

[shiningstar76]

here is one that I found. Are they about the same era?

 

[dcooper1]

I know you can hardly tell from the picture but all of the lighter areas are GOLD. There is a little bit of gold left on the back but absolutely no other markings or seams.

Shiningstar - here's the picture someone sent the link to,yours kinda looks like the one in the top right corner. I'm pretty sure they are the same era. I knew as soon as I picked mine up that it was colonial, just by the size!!!!