1812 Light Artillery button, musket-ball with long mold spru attached, tombac

[Scrappy]

Today I went to my Long Island site and still managed a few keepers despite my struggling. I'm still trying to figure the way the homestead was spread out, but it seems near completely wiped off the face of the earth.

Found a musket ball with the spru still attached from when it was poured in the mold. The spru forms where lead was poured through a channel into the mold, and they were then cut after the ball was pulled from the mold. Somehow this one was not cut. A Pistol shot and a couple more flat buttons including a nice tombac completed my day. Also a cast iron stove leg from the original house dating to the 1750's.

Funny enough I didn't realize I had a military button until I returned to the car. Here's when I first found out.

Turns out it's an 1812 Light Artillery button. I don't have my Alberts book so I'm stuck guessing. Anyway, once dried it started peeling so I went with it

Enjoy your weekend and good hunting

Steve

 

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[Ahab8]

One of my favorite button designs even. Congrats on one that I'd be ecstatic over my friend

 

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[Scrappy]

Oh man... I didn't see the picture after the crust came off. That thing looks awesome. For whatever reason, those artillery buttons are my favorites and I hope to dig one of those one day. Hope you can hit that place hard.

Oh man I though I sent you an updated pic! I also need to use the flashlight trick. I know exactly where yours is....think coastline...October....

 

[Steve in PA]

Great button Steve. I would love to find one of those.

 

[Scrappy]

Great button Steve. I would love to find one of those.

Thanks Steve. I'm sure some people looked this up in Alberts, but I just got home. Dates 1808-1811. Good luck buddy

 

[joeyfresh]

Great button Steve. 1812 artillery or any early artillery buttons have eluded me. I too, love finding lead balls with untrimmed sprues. One of the real finds I saw George find was the "comb" part of the lead cast (the remainder after the balls were cut off)...I saw him dig it, I swear

 

[Scrappy]

Great button Steve. 1812 artillery or any early artillery buttons have eluded me. I too, love finding lead balls with untrimmed sprues. One of the real finds I saw George find was the "comb" part of the lead cast (the remainder after the balls were cut off)...I saw him dig it, I swear

You have the same problem as Abe, you skip right over this "modern" crap and dig mostly in the 17th and 18th C. dirt. Lol. You'll get one for sure!

On the other note, I've dug with George several times and he undoubtedly dug a lot of cool stuff.

 

[Carolina Tom]

Very sweet button Scraps!

Best of luck to you in the field sir.

 

[birdman]

That button is to die for,Love it.

 

[releventchair]

Your button is a great recovery..congrats!
Till a mold is proper temperature,wrinkles , some with voids can result. Some times a couple /few casts are made till results are satisfactory and a good run can continue.
Holding the mold against the lead pot or heat source can preheat ,but it's still a uniform heat thing.
Not saying that is your case...but if you find mild deformations on one ,a possibility.
Should go in to remelt with cut sprues but things fortunately for us ; get dropped sometimes.
Dropping a still very hot fresh cast ball on a slanted surface can reduce impact and a flat spot , but a rolling object can grow legs and run away too.

 

[Ahab8]

Great button Steve. 1812 artillery or any early artillery buttons have eluded me. I too, love finding lead balls with untrimmed sprues. One of the real finds I saw George find was the "comb" part of the lead cast (the remainder after the balls were cut off)...I saw him dig it, I swear

Someone saw him dig a 1600s British silver too....they just didn't see him get it in the mail and bury it lol