Don in SJ said:That is a nice one, I believe one of our members, who does not post often here but is a member, found the same button variety in Ohio, perhaps 6-8 years ago, I used to have a photograph of it, it was heavily silverplated and just in super shape. If he reads this post perhaps he could post the photo of it. I am fairly certain it was the same variety WI-15, which now would be most likely Very Scarce with more being found since Albert's book was written.
Don
ADDED: Found the photo on this forum of the other WI-15 button that was found in Ohio by one of our members. It is his Avatar photo
Iron Patch said:Don in SJ said:That is a nice one, I believe one of our members, who does not post often here but is a member, found the same button variety in Ohio, perhaps 6-8 years ago, I used to have a photograph of it, it was heavily silverplated and just in super shape. If he reads this post perhaps he could post the photo of it. I am fairly certain it was the same variety WI-15, which now would be most likely Very Scarce with more being found since Albert's book was written.
Don
ADDED: Found the photo on this forum of the other WI-15 button that was found in Ohio by one of our members. It is his Avatar photo
Isn't "Very Scarce" in coin terms something like 200-300 known? I guess it must be different for buttons?
Don in SJ said:Iron Patch said:Don in SJ said:That is a nice one, I believe one of our members, who does not post often here but is a member, found the same button variety in Ohio, perhaps 6-8 years ago, I used to have a photograph of it, it was heavily silverplated and just in super shape. If he reads this post perhaps he could post the photo of it. I am fairly certain it was the same variety WI-15, which now would be most likely Very Scarce with more being found since Albert's book was written.
Don
ADDED: Found the photo on this forum of the other WI-15 button that was found in Ohio by one of our members. It is his Avatar photo
Isn't "Very Scarce" in coin terms something like 200-300 known? I guess it must be different for buttons?
There really is no official scale for buttons that I have ever found, but Albert's has a Scale of Rarity for GW buttons as as rarity scales go for coins, here is the best I can figure out for naming rarity for his scale.
R 7 Unique 1 or possibly 2 known
R 6 3-5
R 5 6-10
R 4 11-25
R 3 26-50
R2 51-75
R1 More than 75
Now we are talking about rarity of GW buttons here and therefore one could say the following for the numbers
R7 Unique (Cru loves that term useage)
R6 Very Rare
R5 Rare
R4 Very Scarce
R3 Scarce
R2 Common
R1 Very Common
Again, this is for rarity of GW buttons only, Page 382 Albert's Becententenial Edition 1976. (in general ANY GW button is a "rare" find as far as all of us are concerned)
Back in 1976 the WI-15 button was listed as a R5, which with additional buttons being found by detectorists since 1976, has most likely moved it to a R4 rarity..........
Don
It probably wouldn't be very smart of me to argue with what Albert says, but I just don't feel right calling a rare button scarce.
,heck mine is too
but again it is in relation to the GW buttons themselves for determining value. 
Don in SJ said:Well maybe that's why buttons aren't worth anything close to coins for the same rarity.... because relic guys mucked up the scale! It probably wouldn't be very smart of me to argue with what Albert says, but I just don't feel right calling a rare button scarce. (IP)
Albert assigned rarity so collectors could help determine the value, yes, a GW button being called scarce or even "common"
On the other hand, look how people call a 1916D Mercury Dime, rare or very rare.. only 264,000 minted.
Don
