An unexpected surprise....(UPDATED WITH PHOTO!!!)

[Kiros32]

I was hunting a local park on Thursday where I have found a couple of wheats and some clad....no silver yet, Anyway, there was a small grassy area where they had just planted some trees. I got a good quarter hit on my MXT and started digging. At about 5 inches, I found what looked to be an old nickel. It was the same size, but the soil was very sandy and gritty so I couldn't make out the markings. Thinking it was a first buffalo, I rushed home to clean it up. After a couple hours of an olive oil bath and some gentle toothpick cleaning, an outline of a raised eagle appeared. I turned it over, and what I thought was a pebble turned out to be a loop. It was a button. I am guessing it is CW from the look of it, but I need to clean it up some more so I can try and identify it. I will try to post a picture tonight so you guys can help me. I need 2 things though:

1. The best, quickest, and safest method for cleaning buttons?
2. A good link for identifying it.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

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[Dave N Japan]

Re: An unexpected surprise....

Great find... I would use a soft toothbrush and soap and water...If it has a gold leaf cover ...be very careful.

 

[newtocoinhunting]

Re: An unexpected surprise....

2. A good link for identifying it.

Here's are a few of the many sites that sell CW buttons, you will find pictures to compare yours against:
http://www.civilwarbuttons.com/cwcol.htm
http://www.relicman.com/
http://www.civilwaroutpost.com/buttons.htm
http://www.civilwarpreservations.com/catpage.asp?CategoryType=Buttons

Hope that helps.

 

[Kiros32]

Re: An unexpected surprise....

It looks most similar to this, but the head of the eagle is facing the other direction. Sorry about not posting a picture. I was too busy searching rolls of halves last night....and coming up with nuttin.

 

[rvbvetter]

Re: An unexpected surprise....

If the eagles on a anchor. It might be naval. But I'm betting it's Marine. Don't scrub it!! Just try to see what it says on the back. Scovil, Waterbury or perhaps Horstmann and so on. Will help you in identifying it. If there's any gold gilt left on it. Be careful. It could easily come off if you scrub it. HH

 

[Kiros32]

Re: An unexpected surprise....(UPDATED WITH PICTURE)

I was finally able to post a picture of the button. It isn't the best, but you can see that it is flat with an eagle grasping an anchor. It DOES appear to be a Marine button, however, form all of the links I have visited I have found none with the eagle's head facing this direction. Any chance this is rare?

 

[Dave N Japan]

Leave it like it is!!!! Looks Great!

 

[trk5capt]

KIROS, Nice Find, Congrats. trk5capt...