IP, yes they come out around here a light gray color. To clean them i first use a dremel with a soft wire wheel which darkens them, taking off the oxidation, then i wax them. These buttons were found in town, not in a field, i have actually found pewter buttons here that were beautiful also (full rims - no breaking) but for the most part they always seem to have some issues. I have dug American 1812, Spanish, & British pewter buttons, some nice, some not so nice.
Thanks for showing interest, Chris