RARE BUCKS OF AMERICA BUTTON, REVOLUTIONARY WAR?

[GWW]

I found this button at a remarkable dual site in Worcestor County Maryland. The site is a farm field on Sinepuxant Bay with 2 vanished home sites with obvious out buildings. Well over 200 items have been found and both sites date from 1720ish to 1790ish. One site has produced some military items including this hand etched button showing a deer jumping over a tuft of grass. I didnt think much of it until a friend showed me a picture of an identical button in a book, the picture was labled "Bucks of America" and the word "RARE" listed beside it. Unfortunately the book gives no information about its rarity, value etc. I have found some info about this black malitia on the net and I am excited to find out if my find is truly from the Bucks of America malitia. Can you help?

You can get more info here:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...=Google+Search

[comfyinvermont]

Hey GWW, nice find.
Alberts lists your button as a GI17, Continental Army, Bucks of America, and lists it as 23mm in size. He does not give a rarity value on it, but I would imagine it is quite rare....Lance

[GWW]

Thanks Lance. I just measured mine and its 16.5mm, I hope its truly a Bucks of America. Maybe an unknown size

Hey I found this, yet it doesnt look like mine:

http://www.civilwarbuttons.com/infantry.htm

(5th one down)

Thanks! Gary

[comfyinvermont]

Gary
Yours looks more like the one listed in Alberts book than does the one for sale. I would say that yours might just be an odd size. By the way, take a look at my plume holder, (not a good picture) and let me know if you have ever seen anything like it. Its listed in this category...Lance

[GWW]

:cry: Well Lance I got bad news. Don Troiani replied to my email to him about this button and this is what he has told me:

"Gary,

The "Bucks of America " was a fairytale started in the 1920s which was aped by later button books, there was no such unit in the Revolution , but there may have one at a later date. These what you surmised, fox hunting or sporting buttons. They may well be of the Revolutionary period but are not military. Still a nice find, just not military. Cheers, Don T"

I used a whole roll of paper towels to wipe up my tears...

With all the info on the net about the Bucks of America and a flag being on display in a museum and the button being listed as such in all the books I am more confused than ever... :?

Best, Gary

[Darla]

Rare or not it is an extreemly nice find and you should be proud of it.

happy detecting,

Darla

[comfyinvermont]

Gary
I agree with Darla. Its a great button. And it is in Aberts anyway...Lance