Artillery Button

[Florida Finder]

I got out today in hopes of finding a button. I found this cool Artillery button at my favorite fort site. It’s in pretty decent condition with the exception of a little corrosion on one edge.
Along with that I scored 5 musket balls. One of which was quartered. I have found quartered ones before and I am unsure why they are that way.
Thanks for taking a peek and happy hunting to all!

 

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[villagenut]

I sure do like the eagle on those 2nd Seminole War buttons over the third.....I have found pistol balls cut in half for some reason but not musketballs Why do you think they did it ?

 

[Florida Finder]

I sure do like the eagle on those 2nd Seminole War buttons over the third.....I have found pistol balls cut in half for some reason but not musketballs Why do you think they did it ?

Village
I have no idea on that. I’ve thought about it many times and can’t come up with anything at all. I’ve found some of those halved pieces as well. If you ever find out please let me know.
Thanks

 

[fyrffytr1]

I love that button! one like it is on my bucket list.

 

[billb]

I got out today in hopes of finding a button. I found this cool Artillery button at my favorite fort site. It’s in pretty decent condition with the exception of a little corrosion on one edge.
Along with that I scored 5 musket balls. One of which was quartered. I have found quartered ones before and I am unsure why they are that way.
Thanks for taking a peek and happy hunting to all! View attachment 1986179

Wow that button is so so nice Congratulations on that beautiful recovery

 

[Digger RJ]

I got out today in hopes of finding a button. I found this cool Artillery button at my favorite fort site. It’s in pretty decent condition with the exception of a little corrosion on one edge.
Along with that I scored 5 musket balls. One of which was quartered. I have found quartered ones before and I am unsure why they are that way.
Thanks for taking a peek and happy hunting to all! View attachment 1986179

Nice!!!!! Congrats!!!!!

 

[Underwonder]

I got out today in hopes of finding a button. I found this cool Artillery button at my favorite fort site. It’s in pretty decent condition with the exception of a little corrosion on one edge.
Along with that I scored 5 musket balls. One of which was quartered. I have found quartered ones before and I am unsure why they are that way.
Thanks for taking a peek and happy hunting to all! View attachment 1986179

Great find and it looks to be in such great shape! It’s nice that you had an intention to find a button and then you did! Congratulations!

 

[Red-Coat]

Along with that I scored 5 musket balls. One of which was quartered. I have found quartered ones before and I am unsure why they are that way.

I have no idea on that. I’ve thought about it many times and can’t come up with anything at all. I’ve found some of those halved pieces as well. If you ever find out please let me know.

Good button.

I have no idea if this is the reason but I do know that from Colonial times through to the pioneer era, musket balls served as alternative currency when small change was unavailable. Maybe they were split to create small fractional pennies/cents. In theory, they were accepted because they were a useable commodity, but also accepted in a 'token value' sense by those who had no need for them.

Somewhere, I have a copy of a Royal proclamation setting their value against the penny which also says that no-one shall be compelled to accept more than a specified number of them in any transaction. I'll see if I can find it... but don't hold your breath.

[As an aside, when travelling in the Greek Islands in the 1970s I discovered that shopkeepers on some of the more remote islands where small coins were in short supply might give you a packet of pins, a stick of chewing gum, or a box of matches in lieu of change for similar reasons]

 

[Trezurehunter]

Congrats on a great looking military button.

 

[WannaDig3687]

Pretty cool. Congrats!

 

[Red-Coat]

Good button.

I have no idea if this is the reason but I do know that from Colonial times through to the pioneer era, musket balls served as alternative currency when small change was unavailable. Maybe they were split to create small fractional pennies/cents. In theory, they were accepted because they were a useable commodity, but also accepted in a 'token value' sense by those who had no need for them.

Somewhere, I have a copy of a Royal proclamation setting their value against the penny which also says that no-one shall be compelled to accept more than a specified number of them in any transaction. I'll see if I can find it... but don't hold your breath.

[As an aside, when travelling in the Greek Islands in the 1970s I discovered that shopkeepers on some of the more remote islands where small coins were in short supply might give you a packet of pins, a stick of chewing gum, or a box of matches in lieu of change for similar reasons]

Can't find the document copy in my library that I was referring to, but a quick Google search turned up this quote from the Massachusetts General Assembly in 1634:

"It is likewise ordered that muskett bulletts of a full boare shall pass currantly for a farthing apiece, provided that noe man be compelled to take above XIId [ie no more than 48 balls, equivalent to 12 pence] at a tyme in them."

The practice continued long after that.

 

[CreakyDigger]

Congrats on that button! I think musket balls may have been split or quartered to spread the shot - four projectiles rather than one at close quarters. Similar to why cannon may have fired grape or chain shot. If in a paper cartridge, they would slide down the barrel wrapped as a unit, would not change any loading pattern, but upon firing close and en masse inflict greater damage. A theory.

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

I got out today in hopes of finding a button. I found this cool Artillery button at my favorite fort site. It’s in pretty decent condition with the exception of a little corrosion on one edge.
Along with that I scored 5 musket balls. One of which was quartered. I have found quartered ones before and I am unsure why they are that way.
Thanks for taking a peek and happy hunting to all! View attachment 1986179

very cool find and great save

 

[CRUSADER]

Can't find the document copy in my library that I was referring to, but a quick Google search turned up this quote from the Massachusetts General Assembly in 1634:

"It is likewise ordered that muskett bulletts of a full boare shall pass currantly for a farthing apiece, provided that noe man be compelled to take above XIId [ie no more than 48 balls, equivalent to 12 pence] at a tyme in them."

The practice continued long after that.

Interesting, never heard of this but it makes sense as a commodity of use in that period, to most pioneers.