Silver Tree Chaser
Bronze Member
I recently found this GWI button during a brief 10 minute search of a cellar hole with my son. We had to unexpectedly cut short our very first visit to the site. Close by the stone foundation in quick order I recovered a small button, a rough piece of pewter, and a large flat button before we had to leave. I thought the large button might have a design, but identification would need to wait until later. When I got home, I was glad to see the faint outline of the initials — GW; it was a George Washington Inaugural button! 
I had recovered the same GWI button variety back in 2014. In comparison to my first GWI, this latest button was in very poor condition. 
I was amazed with such a recovery after such a short search, but the button’s condition was thoroughly awful. As you can see in the provided photo, the button’s detail and overall appearance was dreadful owing to a thick layer of bonded dirt and oxidation.
I soaked the button in mineral oil for several days and was able to remove the bonded dirt with a tooth pick and magnify glasses with relative ease. Removed dirt and oxidation in the mineral oil solution can be seen in the next provided photo.
After an overall cleaning with the toothpicks, I gave it a light buffing with some fine steel wool to give it a bit more eye appeal by brightening up some of the highpoints. Here’s the end result:
Overall, I’m satisfied with the end result as the button's motto and initials are certainly more legible. While the button has clearly lost some detail, I believe this damage was done a long time ago as the button slowly oxidized. I haven’t posted much on TNet in a while — I’ve been working for 6+ months on an article to be published in a research journal on a past metal detecting find. I’m now finished with the article, and was happy to recover a second GWI button so soon after getting back to detecting more often. Yes — I returned to the cellar hole that offered up the GWI button to see what else could be found after such a promising start. I found one button after a two hour search, and no, it wasn’t another GWI. The site offered up little else — no coins, buckles, or musket balls. The recovery of just three buttons, one of which being a GWI, was amazing to me. In detecting, you never know what you might find might (or not find). I was reminded of this fact soon after on another hunt. More to follow!
I had recovered the same GWI button variety back in 2014. In comparison to my first GWI, this latest button was in very poor condition. I was amazed with such a recovery after such a short search, but the button’s condition was thoroughly awful. As you can see in the provided photo, the button’s detail and overall appearance was dreadful owing to a thick layer of bonded dirt and oxidation.
I soaked the button in mineral oil for several days and was able to remove the bonded dirt with a tooth pick and magnify glasses with relative ease. Removed dirt and oxidation in the mineral oil solution can be seen in the next provided photo.
After an overall cleaning with the toothpicks, I gave it a light buffing with some fine steel wool to give it a bit more eye appeal by brightening up some of the highpoints. Here’s the end result:
Overall, I’m satisfied with the end result as the button's motto and initials are certainly more legible. While the button has clearly lost some detail, I believe this damage was done a long time ago as the button slowly oxidized. I haven’t posted much on TNet in a while — I’ve been working for 6+ months on an article to be published in a research journal on a past metal detecting find. I’m now finished with the article, and was happy to recover a second GWI button so soon after getting back to detecting more often. Yes — I returned to the cellar hole that offered up the GWI button to see what else could be found after such a promising start. I found one button after a two hour search, and no, it wasn’t another GWI. The site offered up little else — no coins, buckles, or musket balls. The recovery of just three buttons, one of which being a GWI, was amazing to me. In detecting, you never know what you might find might (or not find). I was reminded of this fact soon after on another hunt. More to follow!
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