Approximate age of Infantry Button

cjon455 · Apr 9, 2015

hey guys, found this beauty about 9-10" down with the etrac in northeast Pennsylvania, any idea roughly how old it is? I know its a 2 piece and says extra quality on back, any help is appreciated

Nepa-Will · Apr 10, 2015

Don't know much about buttons. Found this. Extra.320.LargeCoat, (23mm).
Backmark: "EXTRA. / (star) QUALITY. (star)" dm between rings of dots, likely manufactured by Watyerbury Button Co, ca 1860, (Extra.320.LargeCoat).
Ref: Tice, Dating Buttons.

Button backmarks, "Extra.....".
Hope this helps!

cjon455 · Apr 10, 2015

Dang will, looks pretty spot on!, probably my favorite find to date due to being CW related, thanks!

fyrffytr1 · Apr 10, 2015

I think your button dates to the early 1850s. If I read it right the I was omitted from general service buttons in 1854. This is what I am basing my reply on. It is an excerpt from Albert's button book.

"The same button (a spread eagle with shield) will be used for all corps, to wit: that now used for the Infantry, omitting the I on the shield" (General Order No. 1 A. G. O., January 20, 1854."

Of course I could be reading this wrong, in which case I hope someone will correct me.

duggap · Apr 10, 2015

fyrffytr1, I think you are partially correct, but let me give you what Tice has in his book. "A button device showing the spread eagle with a shield inscribed I was adopted in 1821. Enlisted men used the design until 1854 when it was replaced by a general service button without the letter I. Infantry officers continued to use the old style buttons until 1902, when the Great Seal device was adopted for all ranks." This may explain why we found so many of the "I" buttons on civil war sites.

fyrffytr1 · Apr 10, 2015

duggap said:
fyrffytr1, I think you are partially correct, but let me give you what Tice has in his book. "A button device showing the spread eagle with a shield inscribed I was adopted in 1821. Enlisted men used the design until 1854 when it was replaced by a general service button without the letter I. Infantry officers continued to use the old style buttons until 1902, when the Great Seal device was adopted for all ranks." This may explain why we found so many of the "I" buttons on civil war sites.

Thanks, I saw that the button change only applied to the enlisted mans uniform but didn't see anything about the officers.

fyrffytr1 · Apr 10, 2015

After a little more research I wish to change my answer to agree with Nepa-Will. According to Tice's book, and I quote; "GI1225A2, Albert's GI85; Infantry, high convex, two piece. Theses examples were made during the 1860s.
A. The serifs on the I are curved
1. "Waterbury Button Co/*Extra*" depressed mark
2. "*Extra*/ Quality" depressed mark.

So, along with the info from Albert's I think it is safe to say that you have an officer's eagle button from the 1860s.