Finally!!!

[SilverTone]

I've been looking for a South Carolina button for a long time and finally found one on Saturday!!! I'm always next to the person who finds the Reale, Eagle Breast Plate, Buckle or great button but Saturday was my day I guess. This is a beauty. Can anyone give me an accurate date on it though? I posted pictures on different Identification Facebook sites and have had a few different answers. Some say it's an 1850 Citadel Cadet button. Another said it's definitely Civil War. And one said it's a pre-war South Carolina militia button. The backmark is Schuyler H&G NY.
I usually don't clean anything I find and display it as it was dug but I'm on the fence with this one. The green patina is beautiful but I can see a lot of gold and it probably will clean up nicely. Any advice given will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Also, does anyone know what the large brass piece is?

View attachment Finds.pdf View attachment SC Back.pdf View attachment SC Front.pdf

 

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[Trezurehunter]

I have no info, but I'm sure the button authorities will chime in soon for you. Congrats on a very nice button.

 

[Pacivilwarluke]

Very nice button! That backmark is an 1850's pre war backmark, and was likely intended for an SC militia unit. A lot of the state seal buttons worn by confederates were made during the 1850s and were intended for militias before hostilities broke out. So if you found it at a civil war site it was likely lost by an SC confederate in that period. The big brass thing is a bit boss, looks 18th century or maybe early 19th century. I see a broken colonial spur there as well! Awesome finds!

 

[DownNDirty]

Sweet find! Definitely clean it (gently) with aluminum jelly and a toothpick. Apply the jelly, let it sit for about a minute then just roll the toothpick over the surface to pull the dirt up. Rinse and repeat until the jelly no longer turns brown. Very important-Be sure to (again gently) rub Dawn detergent over it and rinse after you are done to remove all traces of the aluminum jelly. This method will shine any remaining gilt, and you will probably find that there is more there than you think.

 

[dfallis1]

Congrats. Great finds.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on a nice button

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratulations on the state button!

 

[Carolina Tom]

Congrats on the beautiful piece of Carolina history!

 

[Patriot Relics]

Word on caution on your killer tree button, I dug the exact button last year with a small about of silver gilt showing through. I used alluminum jelly meticulously and still stripped most of the green patina, leaving just a bit of the silver wash and turning the patina a rust color. If it was mine, I'd just lightly toothpick and leave her as dug. Congrats!

 

[SilverTone]

Thanks for all of the responses. Can't wait to get out again!!! I'll post a picture after it's cleaned. Thanks.

 

[diggervet]

Beautiful find, still looking for one of those!