also found this 2 piece button

[Vino]

It says Philadelphia something..not sure what its related 2

 

[Vino]

Better pic

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The "better" photo of the button is still out-of-focus... and, dark. I can't tell what is above the shield (perhaps a droop-winged eagle), nor tell what the two objects inside the shield are.

All I can tell you with certainty at the moment is that your button doesn't seem to be shown among the various State Seal buttons in the Alphaeus Albert book. So, I think it is most likely a City Seal or City Police button. It "resembles" some New York city buttons. Those show a droop-winged eagle standing on a globe (or half-globe) above a spade-shaped shield, with a person standing beside the shield on each of its sides.

You said your button's back says "Philadelphia." The most common button-backmark saying "Philadelphia" (fully spelled out -- not abreviated Phil, Phila, or Philada) is a Horstmann Philadelphia backmark, which dates from 1893 to 1947.

 

[taz42o]

Philadelphia seal I think.

 

[Vino]

Thats it!!! Any idea what year?? Thanks..

 

[taz42o]

Where are you reading Philadelphia? on the front or back. Can we see the back?

 

[Vino]

Where are you reading Philadelphia? on the front or back. Can we see the back?

Here are better pics

 

[HutSiteDigger]

The photo is not letting me zoom in but i think i make out "Phila"? and not the whole word of Philadelphia.. I think CBG may have made a typo because there are Hortsmann buttons with the complete word of "Philadelphia" dating to the 1890s like the "Union veteran button, "GAR", officer staff, Horstmann Philadelphia" and a few others.. I think "Phila" dates it to the time frame of the 1840s-1860s? CBG is very knowledgeable on this and i think may have made a typo?? but not sure, I will wait for him to clarify..

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Yes, I meant to say 1893, but I accidentally transposed the 8 and 9. It's fixed now. Thanks for the heads-up.

I enlarged the photo of the back. It does say "Horstmann Philadelphia" -- so it indeed from 1893 to 1947.

 

[Vino]

Thats alot guys..I have about 10 of these buttons. Most with a eagle and a sun on them...il s ent a pic of thoughs also..

 

[fyrffytr1]

Those are "Great Seal" buttons used by the Army since 1902. They are still in use. Yours dates from 1910 because it has the rim. Again, a backmark will help date the button more accurately. I can't tell if your button is just wet or it has black paint on it. If it is painted that would narrow the date range to 1910-1923. BigCypressHunter has a thread on the Great Seal buttons. Here's a link: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/112828-great-seal-button-backmarks-help.html

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

That button is called a "Great Seal of the United States" button, which was first adopted for US Army use in 1902. The 1902-1910 version did not have a raised rim, which yours has. The specific version you found, which has a "black finish," dates from the World War One era to 1923.

Edit note: Fyrffytr1 and I were typing at the same time.