I dug these last night in south jersey. I have dug a couple of hundred buttons here and I have no idea as to why there are all in this field. Anyone have any ideas?
Top middle US Marine Corps. Would need to see the backmark to know when it was made. On it's right, I think that's a flower button, the one on the top right could be very interesting. Try dry brushing it. Stars like that were made for states like Mississippi and Texas.
Bottom left is probably an old coin, I'd have to see the back and bottom right is a lead bale seal used when shipping cloth.
Yes. I would say 75 percent military. I have found western union, ny fire department, Erie Canal, and some lead hem weights. Spread over about four acres.
Since you are find a wide assortment of buttons and hem weights as well, there is a chance that there was an old paper mill nearby. They used rags to make paper back then, but first had to strip the rags of any metal.