Flat Button or...? I cant ID what this is. Anyone seen it before?

[Ace^of^Spades]

Flat Button or...? I can't ID what this is. Anyone seen it before?

Hi I found this today on an 1850 farm house yard. I do not know what it is. At first I thought it was a flat button. But when I turned it over, there looks like a 'butterfly' style clasp or mechanism where the shank would be. That part looks to have been smashed out of original shape. Here are the metrics

Weight: .30 oz
Diameter: 26mm wide, just over an inch
Target ID: 53-55 on Garrett ATPro
Pictures: Attached, several, from out of the ground to cleaned.

 

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[WildWildBill]

I'm betting it to be some kind of flat button, but I can't be for sure. The reverse has me totally baffled. I'm wondering what type of material. Any other finds in the vicinity of that object?

 

[Ace^of^Spades]

Thanks Wild Bill, there were several coins related to new periods at the house as you would expect. There was one interesting piece which may be related, I describe it as a colonial era keg tap or spigot just like the one at this link http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/294109-colonial-barrel-spigot-dug-today-mebane-nc.html

Some others have guessed: Hand/home made button, regimental badge, some other kind of pin/fastener (with the odd butterfly shank). Certainly hope someone has seen before.

 

[Vino]

Is it heavy? Lead?
Looks like a cloth seal.

 

[Ace^of^Spades]

Thanks Vino, Its exactly .30 ounces. What is a cloth seal?

 

[Vino]

Its what the would seal cloth with when they exported to other countrys, Yours has only one half the other half has the trade mark or origin were it came from..
Its from 1800s..

 

[Vino]

He is a pick

 

[Patriot Relics]

Agreed, my gut reaction was lead seal.

 

[Ace^of^Spades]

Hi Guys, thanks for the quick post. I think you are on to something here. It really does look like a cloth seal. Not very sophisticated one tho. It even has a rough edge that looks like where the extending part broke off. Mine even has crude scratched markings like the kind in this http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/castlehill/figures/pict0016.jpg Its not easy to make out but it definately has "1 9 2" scratched onto it. How old are these?

 

[The Patriot]

It's a bale seal...just no markings on it!...got lots of those, almost identical...

 

[Ace^of^Spades]

Thanks Patriot, this was found in Somers NY. Do you know what time periods bale seals were used?

 

[The Patriot]

Bale seals have been used from ancient times and in use today although different in appearance...looking at yours I would say anywhere from 1750 to early 1800's

Thanks Patriot, this was found in Somers NY. Do you know what time periods bale seals were used?