Sterling Silver spoon, 1800s military button, and some help needed.....

[NJ Garrett]

Sterling Silver spoon, 1800's military button, and some help needed.....

Hi all!

Gorgeous day out today, and I had a couple hours this afternoon to go for a hunt. I found an assortment of interesting items. The first was a sterling silver spoon, weighing in at 28 g, the makers mark indicates it is from R. Wallace and Sons. I haven't determined the age yet. If any of you are spoon experts, please let me know! The letter on the front, I believe is an L.

Then I found a cool button. At the time I dug it up, I thought, cool another button, and put it in my pouch. Only when I got home did I see the eagle and the US on the front. It says United States on the back. According to the internet (which is always right), an 1820's US military great coat button. Awesome! If any of you button buffs know more, please let me know!

Then I found another flat button, but this one came out of the ground very lustrous! I thought it was silver, but it rings up 12:20 on my CTX 3030. I've never had silver come up there. Is it possible that it's gold? I have no idea. I took some pictures to give you a feel for it's size. Same diameter as a quarter, curved slope to the shank. I really need help from the button buffs on this one. Help me ID this please!

Along the way, I found 3 wheat pennies. They appear to be from the 1940's. At least two of them are. Good luck finding a date on the third.

Of course, I also found a nice Indian head circa 1901. Nice detail on this one.

In the end, I haven't found nary a silver coin on this site, but the spoon will have to do.

Kevin

 

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[villagenut]

According to Ridgeway, you may be spot on with the button with the difference of the star, dot,star pattern being all three stars on yours.. Your spoon looks to be a "Concord "pattern from the 1920s which seem to match your coin date period

 

[gheenoe78]

Great coat button. Nice find! Which ones yours?

 

[Erik in NJ]

Your silver colored button is what's called a "tombac" button. They are often turned (like yours is) and can date back to Colonial to early 1800s or so. What part of NJ are you in (you can PM if you want)--I'm in northern NJ? Nice finds!

 

[Scrappy]

That's a nice collection of buttons. Early and really nice. That spoon is a great piece as well. Solid silver? I've found spoon fragments and whole spoons and they all rang up high. Is there any markings?

Anyway, I wish we could have hunted today but domestic stuff hung me up all day.

Steve

 

[NJ Garrett]

Thanks gheenoe78! I believe that my button is 70B. That's the one with three stars on the back. :

 

[NJ Garrett]

Thanks Erik! This button is pretty heavy. Not sure if that's typical of tombacs. I knew that it wasn't silver by the CTX reading, but it came out of the ground so nice!

I'll PM you.

 

[NJ Garrett]

Thanks Steve! It was a good day. I could have used your silver mafia luck. Not one silver coin! The spoon definitely makes up for it. The markings on the back are "RW&S Sterling". It is monogrammed with an L on the front. THere is also an "H" in a circle on the back at the base of the spoon. Still trying to find a good match on the internet so I can date it....

We'll definitely get together on a hunt soon!

Kevin

 

[CRUSADER]

Your silver colored button is what's called a "tombac" button. They are often turned (like yours is) and can date back to Colonial to early 1800s or so. What part of NJ are you in (you can PM if you want)--I'm in northern NJ? Nice finds!

Yeap a tombac, which if you google is a type of metal used at the time.

 

[Davers]

Great Finds Man, & a Great Site IMO.

 

[46Wheat]

Thank you for taking the time to share your hunt and those pictures with us