Anyone know anything about old Spanish Navy buttons?

[tomtom]

I found this a couple weeks ago out in the middle of nowhere in the Nevada desert. It was about 6-8 inches down near an old pony express stop. The back is marked Lucas Saenz Madrid. I dug around online and found an approximate date of 1800-1820. I sent an email to the guy running the website but have heard nothing back so I thought I'd toss it out here and see if anyone has any ideas.

Anyone know why the Spanish navy would have been in Nevada in the early 1800's? Someone could have had an old uniform out there but that's kind of odd as well.

Open to discussion...

Thanks,

T o m

 

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[Javadroid]

I don't know much about buttons, but I do know it's finds like this that make ours a most fascinating hobby. Congrats to ya mate, and good luck on your quest for the answer!

 

[Steve in PA]

Don't know much about Spanish navy buttons, but it is a two piece button, so probably a little later than 1820.

 

[tomtom]

Here's the page where I found very similar buttons.

Mrkdbts

About halfway down the page on the right margin under ROYAL NAVAL FORCES, Ca. 1812-1820s

When did two piece buttons become a thing?

 

[Steve in PA]

Here's the page where I found very similar buttons.

Mrkdbts

About halfway down the page on the right margin under ROYAL NAVAL FORCES, Ca. 1812-1820s

When did two piece buttons become a thing?

The buttons shown under

ROYAL NAVAL FORCES, Ca. 1812-1820s ​

are one piece buttons. Two piece buttons didn't start showing up until the 1830s.​

 

[smokeythecat]

Steve in Pa is right on the age. That style was invented about 1835. There were numerous foreign advisors here at the time of the Civil War, so it might be to that.

 

[tomtom]

The buttons shown under

ROYAL NAVAL FORCES, Ca. 1812-1820s ​

are one piece buttons. Two piece buttons didn't start showing up until the 1830s.​

Awesome! Thank you! Good to know...buttons aren't my area of expertise.

What I really want to know is how it ended up where it did. The location I was at is 160 miles northeast of Reno in an area that is very remote. I've spent entire weeks out there without seeing anyone other than planes flying overhead.

 

[tomtom]

Steve in Pa is right on the age. That style was invented about 1835. There were numerous foreign advisors here at the time of the Civil War, so it might be to that.

Now that's an interesting point. I'll see what I can find about that.

 

[texjim]

Nice button

 

[Steve in PA]

Awesome! Thank you! Good to know...buttons aren't my area of expertise.

What I really want to know is how it ended up where it did. The location I was at is 160 miles northeast of Reno in an area that is very remote. I've spent entire weeks out there without seeing anyone other than planes flying overhead.

If that button was found back east, you might speculate that it was lost by a foreign advisor or observer during the civil war. As it was found in Nevada where there was no significant CW activity, my guess it was lost by an ex Spanish sailor seeking gold or silver.

 

[tomtom]

If that button was found back east, you might speculate that it was lost by a foreign advisor or observer during the civil war. As it was found in Nevada where there was no significant CW activity, my guess it was lost by an ex Spanish sailor seeking gold or silver.

The location where I found it was near the entrance of a canyon where some nickel mines were operating.

 

[devldog]

Nice Save on the Spanish Naval button. Sometimes the mystery as to where the artifacts were found and as to the how's and why's makes the artifacts and our hobby all the more interesting. This will add a nice story to go along with this button. I don't know how it wound up where it did, but it is a great find. Congrat's.

 

[peruna]

Manufactured buttons were a form of currency up through the late 19th century, and were highly prized. Most were re-used past the original purpose and clothing, and can "migrate" even to a place like yours where no "navy" has sailed. They were valuable items, and rarely discarded intentionally.

The Texas town I live in dates from about 1850...yet we find buttons (some military, some Mexican) that were re-purposed on clothing from the early 20th century. "Ground fishing" means constant surprises!

That is an extraordinary find in ANY location.

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[tomtom]

I’m glad I wrote that post...learning a lot today. I was hoping to find some old coins but I think this button is turning out to be far more interesting.

 

[A2coins]

Great find and Id