Patriot Relics
Silver Member
- Feb 6, 2014
- 3,708
- 5,567
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 5
- Detector(s) used
- CTX-3030, Deus XP II
- Primary Interest:
- Relic Hunting
Hey guys,
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to buy a small lot of flat buttons dug in the lowcountry. While the seller only wanted $6, I offered $50 for what I believed could be an incredible find among the common civilian varieties. I posted the details in the colonial forum- http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/n...0/520464-really-what-i-think-rattlesnake.html. While I was over the moon to add a rare, unlisted rattlesnake cuff to my button display, I had no idea I would be adding another from the same period today while out digging.
Yesterday evening I headed out to another tried and true spot. As the tides were less than ideal, I texted DownNDirty to let him know I'd be headed to my colonial pit "which always seems to give up a flat button". Well needless to say it didn't disappoint. Among the iron, the CTX gave off the familiar 12-12 of a small flat button. Dug the plug, pinpointed the small round button, popped it into the keeper case and off I went. After arriving home, I noticed a raised design on the front...but not like any I had seen in the past. After careful cleaning, the button revealed a familiar 18th century image of a "chicken eagle" with frog legs. The challenge- this cuff variety isn't listed in any reference material I can find. I can, however pinpoint this particular eagle motif to shortly after the Revolutionary War.
Why 18th century army officers cuff and not a new nation/diplomatic cuff? In steps a bit of an assist from Robert Silverstein. Official Diplomat button .. flavor is there, but not quality for a diplomat, but at this time these people were considered military officers. Copper would be officers, Brass more official. So, 3 categories I would place this in. I would go American made and Post Revolution to Wayne's Legion years. My personal hedge is for an early Army “Officer’s button”. Why not Official Diplomate or New Nation Tribute button hedge? All of those specimens are very high quality buttons, and their insignia demonstrated that in the craftsmanship. Your button is nice, unusual, rare, but not super high quality for those two purposes. Also, in my consideration, at this point in time the US Army was really small, so it would not be unusual for a new appointed officer to have something made.
Logic is certainly sound- copper 1 piece, crudely made, and bearing the earliest form of the American Eagle. Hard to believe I dug a cuff that was manufactured at the same period as the rattle snake cuff that I stumbled upon earlier this week (1784-1792).
Update: The eagle button is in fact an unlisted US Army Officer button from the Era between the end of the Revolutionary War and 1800- it will be featured in Bruce Bazelon and William Leigh's upcoming book on early American buttons!
A bit further down the site I got another low deep tone- 1830s zouave coat button
Also managed to get a bit of pit sifting in today with Stef-
I'll let him share his goodies in a later post, but I did manage to walk away with an etched tombac and a bone craved button!
Also scored a partial pipe bowl with Q T stamped on it and a partial megalodon tooth...not sure how that ended up on the colonial plot- this one intact would be the size of a dinner plate!
Best of the sifted pottery
What a way to break a 2 month military button slump...love this rare Army Officer cuff. As a button guy, I'd rather dig these than coins! Another great weekend in the lowcountry, thanks for looking!
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to buy a small lot of flat buttons dug in the lowcountry. While the seller only wanted $6, I offered $50 for what I believed could be an incredible find among the common civilian varieties. I posted the details in the colonial forum- http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/n...0/520464-really-what-i-think-rattlesnake.html. While I was over the moon to add a rare, unlisted rattlesnake cuff to my button display, I had no idea I would be adding another from the same period today while out digging.
Yesterday evening I headed out to another tried and true spot. As the tides were less than ideal, I texted DownNDirty to let him know I'd be headed to my colonial pit "which always seems to give up a flat button". Well needless to say it didn't disappoint. Among the iron, the CTX gave off the familiar 12-12 of a small flat button. Dug the plug, pinpointed the small round button, popped it into the keeper case and off I went. After arriving home, I noticed a raised design on the front...but not like any I had seen in the past. After careful cleaning, the button revealed a familiar 18th century image of a "chicken eagle" with frog legs. The challenge- this cuff variety isn't listed in any reference material I can find. I can, however pinpoint this particular eagle motif to shortly after the Revolutionary War.
Why 18th century army officers cuff and not a new nation/diplomatic cuff? In steps a bit of an assist from Robert Silverstein. Official Diplomat button .. flavor is there, but not quality for a diplomat, but at this time these people were considered military officers. Copper would be officers, Brass more official. So, 3 categories I would place this in. I would go American made and Post Revolution to Wayne's Legion years. My personal hedge is for an early Army “Officer’s button”. Why not Official Diplomate or New Nation Tribute button hedge? All of those specimens are very high quality buttons, and their insignia demonstrated that in the craftsmanship. Your button is nice, unusual, rare, but not super high quality for those two purposes. Also, in my consideration, at this point in time the US Army was really small, so it would not be unusual for a new appointed officer to have something made.
Logic is certainly sound- copper 1 piece, crudely made, and bearing the earliest form of the American Eagle. Hard to believe I dug a cuff that was manufactured at the same period as the rattle snake cuff that I stumbled upon earlier this week (1784-1792).
Update: The eagle button is in fact an unlisted US Army Officer button from the Era between the end of the Revolutionary War and 1800- it will be featured in Bruce Bazelon and William Leigh's upcoming book on early American buttons!
A bit further down the site I got another low deep tone- 1830s zouave coat button
Also managed to get a bit of pit sifting in today with Stef-
I'll let him share his goodies in a later post, but I did manage to walk away with an etched tombac and a bone craved button!
Also scored a partial pipe bowl with Q T stamped on it and a partial megalodon tooth...not sure how that ended up on the colonial plot- this one intact would be the size of a dinner plate!
Best of the sifted pottery
What a way to break a 2 month military button slump...love this rare Army Officer cuff. As a button guy, I'd rather dig these than coins! Another great weekend in the lowcountry, thanks for looking!
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