1 piece Eagle button (Eagle A, 1821-1840)

[gtoast99]

Hey ya'll! I found this 1 piece button not too long ago, didn't clean it up much. I was just going through finds from that hunt, and it looks like there's an eagle on the front of it. I was wondering if you might be able to help me out with an ID. It's a thick convex penny-size button with shank. The back appears to have three rings and one ring of stars. Not sure if there is anything between the other rings or not. The eagle is left facing, upward spread wings, and I think I can see arrows on the right. Found at an OLD homesite in NC, I think around 1810's. I've included raw pictures, as well as contrast enhanced images. I took one flatbed scan (also contrast enhanced), and although you can't see the edges, it shows the eagle pretty well. What do you think?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[CC Hunter]

Appears to be a one-piece convex eagle "A" (artillery) button circa 1820's. Could also be an "I" (infantry) in the shield, as the details are a bit obscure on this example. Although, my eyes are seeing what looks more like an "A" there.

CC

[TheCannonballGuy]

I agree with CCHunter about your button's type and it having an "A" in the shield. The particular emblem on your 1-piece brass button was adopted for the US Artillery in 1821, and used on these 1-piece brass buttons until the late-1830s, after which time the same emblem apeared on the equivalent 2-piece button for US Artillerymen.

Here are photos showing the closest match-up I can find for your 1-piece "Eagle A" button with a circle-of-stars backmark.

[gtoast99]

Thanks! From my own research and this and several other forums, I believe it to be Tice AY199D19 (Albert's AY62, not sure which subtype). It would be an early artillery button with the A worn off. CBG showed me http://relicman.com/buttons/zBackmarkzzOther.htm"]this example[/URL] of AY199Ds4, which shows the same device and backmark but in cuff size. I found a dug example of the coat size here with the same backmark in a series of concentric rings which appear to match my button as well as a matching device. I checked, and mine does indeed have more rings than can be clearly seen in this picture, like the link provided. It is misidentified as AY199Ds4, likely by using relicman's site and failing to take into account the size difference. I looked for similar backmarks among the GS and I buttons in Tice and didn't find any, but I did find AY199D19 with the backmark " *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*. ".

So I do believe that's it, 1821-1840 US artillery button Tice AY199D19.

Thanks for the help!!