Gold cap with shield Found at an old military site...

[spudnutt]

Anyone have any idea what this is? Its extremely small. It measures 1.3cm and appears to be some sort of cap for something? There is a shield in the center with lines through it and stars around the entire diameter.

It was found on a site stationed from the revolutionary war through the civil war.

Thanks in advance!

[RELICDUDE07]

Its a two piece button -that has come apart.

[TheCannonballGuy]

I believe that it is actually the front of a 3-piece button. The clue is the circle of tiny stars which surrounds the eagle -- look closely at the back, you'll see the imprint of the stars. Specifically, it is from a US Army Staff-Officer button, manufactured continually from 1854 to 1902. That type's front-section had a flat rim, which in this case has been crudely straightened out by a soldier to form a cap shape.

Your 13mm measurement of it means it is from a cuff-size button. When it was complete with its missing rim, its measurement was about 15mm to 16mm.

[spudnutt]

I believe that it is actually the front of a 3-piece button. The clue is the circle of tiny stars which surrounds the eagle -- look closely at the back, you'll see the imprint of the stars. Specifically, it is from a US Army Staff-Officer button, manufactured continually from 1854 to 1902. That type's front-section had a flat rim, which in this case has been crudely straightened out by a soldier to form a cap shape.

Your 13mm measurement of it means it is from a cuff-size button. When it was complete with its missing rim, its measurement was about 15mm to 16mm.

Thanks for your help! If it wasn't formed into a cap it would definitely measure about 16mm. Too bad the rest of it was gone