Solid Brass Block I Confederate Infantry Button

[Yak1366]

I found this button about a year ago and hold it as my most prized button find.

I am posting here per the request of a fellow TNet Member & Georgia resident.

23mm Diameter, 9.83g.

If anyone has any specific information, date, etc on this piece, I would be grateful for the information.

 

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[Steve in PA]

That's a nice button. They turn up fairly regularly, so they are not particularly rare. They were made locally in the south during the war as opposed to being imported from England during the war or made up north prior to the war. The 8th edition (1997) of North South Traders Civil War collector's Price Guide has it listed at $75-100 in excavated condition.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on a nice button

 

[scruggs]

Congratulations for finding it and thanks for posting it. It’s a beauty!

 

[gheenoe78]

That's a nice one for sure. Thanks for sharing.

 

[A2coins]

Nice piece of history. Thanks for posting it!!!

 

[gsxraddict]

It's a cast I button, they're getting hard to find here in North GA.

Nice find, what county did it come out of?

 

[Yak1366]

It's a cast I button, they're getting hard to find here in North GA.

Nice find, what county did it come out of?

I see you're just down the road from me gsxraddict. Should be some great hunting down in Lafayette?

Catoosa. On the south side of Chickamauga Battlefield. After a couple of years documenting this particular property, I can say it was a pre-staging area before the battle. 95% of the bullets here are drops. Some odd ones too and plenty of lead spills.

 

[gsxraddict]

I see you're just down the road from me gsxraddict. Should be some great hunting down in Lafayette?

Catoosa. On the south side of Chickamauga Battlefield. After a couple of years documenting this particular property, I can say it was a pre-staging area before the battle. 95% of the bullets here are drops. Some odd ones too and plenty of lead spills.

I've only hunted in Lafayette once and didn't find anything. I do most of my hunting in Paulding, Bartow and Cobb county.

 

[btripp6]

Beautiful button!! Mine is one of my most prized finds as well!!

 

[Yak1366]

Beautiful button!! Mine is one of my most prized finds as well!!

Beautiful button!

Is it the same 23mm diameter? As I hold mine up to the screen to compare it with yours, it seems my "I" fills to edge a bit more. Also noticed my "I" is not centered from top to bottom.

 

[Davers]

That's a nice button. They turn up fairly regularly, so they are not particularly rare. They were made locally in the south during the war as opposed to being imported from England during the war or made up north prior to the war. The 8th edition (1997) of North South Traders Civil War collector's Price Guide has it listed at $75-100 in excavated condition.

$125 -$200 , Depending on condition , but Avg, $150 from the dealers I know. I'd pay more being "For Sure" the area it was dug in.

As Butch H, or American Digger Mag, wrote a few years back , 'paraphrased' Him & "I wish NS Trader would do a better price guide for just dug relics " but I know that would be a tough job there being so many variances that go into dug relics.

They did a great job on their previous price guides. Was the last in 1997?

I was looking at that issue not long ago & hated seeing my Super hard to find (these day's in my area ) Sharpe's bullets at $1-$2 .

Guess we will let the market of Supply & Demand dictate prices of all Relics.

 

[Davers]

I've only hunted in Lafayette once and didn't find anything. I do most of my hunting in Paulding, Bartow and Cobb county.

I only hunted the Chickamauga area once in the 1990's got 0 buttons , but did score some small iron grape shot, & a bunch of fired bullets , i'm happy with that. I cherish that batch of finds for their historical significance.

I also hunt Cobb , Bartow , Paulding , Atl, & Fulton areas . Cobb being where I live so mostly Cobb.
So many Veteran & Greatly Skilled hunters in this area & y'alls.

It's tough these day's to find a bullet fired or not.

 

[Davers]

Beautiful button!

Is it the same 23mm diameter? As I hold mine up to the screen to compare it with yours, it seems my "I" fills to edge a bit more. Also noticed my "I" is not centered from top to bottom.

I'm no expert but gonna tell you about the Cast 'I' buttons as I have learned them.

They were made a many different shops around the South ,(seem to be more found in the Western Theater ,but they are also found in most Civil War areas.)

Many are similar ,but slight differences can be seen in the Mfg, ie, yours has a 'cool imo' off center eye in the shank.

Most times the inside of the eye/where the thread went through ,was filed or ground leaving a sharp edge that quickly cut through the thread ; that plus their weight made the more susceptible to falling off.
From what I have seen , most have their Shanks.

They were also Cast in Pewter but they are usually rougher looking esp, being dug these days , Kinda like Zinc Cents .
Some still come out nice tho (pewter Ones) There was also a cast Brass & Pewter/ White metal 'CSA' Button ; I would love to find one of that type.

Sounds like you have a great place to hunt , & nice dropped bullets are away's welcome especially when you find different types & Confederate Styles.

Keep up saving those nice relics, bet you been addicted to digging since the first Civil War Relic. I was.
Davers

 

[Trezurehunter]

Congrats on that great looking Block I button. That is a nice piece of history.

 

[Phishfarmer]

Confederate buttons get my heart rate up! Congratulations on a great find.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the nice find!

 

[RustyGold]

Super cool button. Thanks for the look!

 

[Steve in PA]

$125 -$200 , Depending on condition , but Avg, $150 from the dealers I know. I'd pay more being "For Sure" the area it was dug in.

As Butch H, or American Digger Mag, wrote a few years back , 'paraphrased' Him & "I wish NS Trader would do a better price guide for just dug relics " but I know that would be a tough job there being so many variances that go into dug relics.

They did a great job on their previous price guides. Was the last in 1997?

I was looking at that issue not long ago & hated seeing my Super hard to find (these day's in my area ) Sharpe's bullets at $1-$2 .

Guess we will let the market of Supply & Demand dictate prices of all Relics.

The 1997 edition was the last one I bought. But I think they continued to publish them, for how long I don't know