British Military button - Need ID

Don in SJ · Nov 11, 2008

Found this button this morning, and it looks like it will not clean up too good, so wanted to post here before I clean, since it appears the patina is peeling off rather badly around the top part where I think the letters are that would positively ID the button. I am assuming it is War of 1812 era by the looks of the crown, but do not know for sure.

The button is convex, 18.5mm, no backmark, has a bit of gilt left on the backside and has lettering across the top that ends in GIMENT(Regiment) and two script letters below the crown.

Don

CRUSADER · Nov 11, 2008

I would agree on the date, based on type & crown. SV :icon_scratch:

Not seen it before. V could be Volunteers, but its a wild guess. I will wait & see what IP comes up with, as I'll be interested to know.

maybe - Staffordshire Volunteers

Iron Patch · Nov 11, 2008

CRUSADER said:
I would agree on the date, based on type & crown. SV Not seen it before. V could be Volunteers, but its a wild guess. I will wait & see what IP comes up with, as I'll be interested to know.

maybe - Staffordshire Volunteers

The one thing I've learned about these buttons is the number of possibilities. I have one that reads AV and there are at least 4 choices of what it could be.

There's a couple of people I'll be talking to in the near future about a couple of buttons and I'll include this one.

CRUSADER · Nov 11, 2008

Iron Patch said:
CRUSADER said:

I would agree on the date, based on type & crown. SV Not seen it before. V could be Volunteers, but its a wild guess. I will wait & see what IP comes up with, as I'll be interested to know.

maybe - Staffordshire Volunteers

Click to expand...

The one thing I've learned about these buttons is the number of possibilities. I have one that reads AV and there are at least 4 choices of what it could be.

There's a couple of people I'll be talking to in the near future about a couple of buttons and I'll include this one.

I know what you mean. I think its an Infantry type.

Iron Patch · Nov 11, 2008

Don in SJ said:
Found this button this morning, and it looks like it will not clean up too good, so wanted to post here before I clean, since it appears the patina is peeling off rather badly around the top part where I think the letters are that would positively ID the button. I am assuming it is War of 1812 era by the looks of the crown, but do not know for sure.

The button is convex, 18.5mm, no backmark, has a bit of gilt left on the backside and has lettering across the top that ends in MENT and two script letters below the crown.

Don

Just a toothpick. I can't imagine a cleaning making it better. Probably see the same amount of detail but the color wil be bad, dark. But I know you will try

so good luck. Sometimes they can surprise you but that I think I'd be happy with it as dug.

Don in SJ · Nov 11, 2008

Actually the one mark on the button at the top, is from a toothpick! ::)

So I have been using damp cotton qtip and now can read "giment" of regiment, but if it says which regiment on the upper left, I do not believe I will be able to determine that, I can almost see something there, but not definitive.

If it is a variant of the 80th Regiment of Foot (Staffordshire Volunteers), I did not see any buttons similar to them, and I do not believe they were in North America in that time period?

I did find that the Staffordshire Volunteers, organized in 1793, but in 1802 were absorbed by the 80th Regiment of Foot to become known as the 80th Regiment of Foot (Staffordshire Volunteers), so the time frame is very possible for the SV to be that Regiment.

Don

Don in SJ · Nov 11, 2008

Here is a photo of the button cleaned up about as good as I am going to get it, just cannot read the letters or numbers if there are any on the upper left. No doubt the word REGIMENT is there, but if is says which regiment before that, I just cannot make it out due to the corrosive flaking of the button.

Don

VERMONTPACKRAT · Nov 11, 2008

Very nice button Don !! I would rather find that button than a pocket full of Mercury Dimes :thumbsup:

I really enjoy seeing the old stuff that you guys consistently pull out of the ground.

Once again great find, VPR

CRUSADER · Nov 12, 2008

What you should be able to work out is how many letters are before regiment, as it will not go further than the bottom of the end 't' ie it will be even across the top. So its a short word.

SimonLakeSub · Nov 12, 2008

Don,,, A great button, and cleaned up very nice. The first word could be " Royal " or possibly " Kings "

Just a guess............. Simon......

COUNTRY GIRL · Nov 12, 2008

Wow that did clean up nice. Congratulations on another fine preservation! :thumbsup:

Can't wait until you folks figure out the whole deal. :wink:

funkman · Nov 12, 2008

very nice button Don!

WTG

Funkman

Don in SJ · Nov 25, 2008

Well, I heard back from a British military button specialist and he consulted others who also are considered " top experts" and no one had an answer. I was recommended by this particular expert to use his name as a referral and contact the British Button Society.

This is my second UNK British military button with either Script Lettering/Numbers on it that has gone unidentified. I know IP has had the same also, but perhaps someday the answers will come. :thumbsup:

Don

Iron Patch · Nov 25, 2008

Don in SJ said:
Well, I heard back from a British military button specialist and he consulted others who also are considered " top experts" and no one had an answer. I was recommended by this particular expert to use his name as a referral and contact the British Button Society.

This is my second UNK British military button with either Script Lettering/Numbers on it that has gone unidentified. I know IP has had the same also, but perhaps someday the answers will come.

Don

Really funny how tough some are to nail down. If it got passed around the British Button Society another person I had in mind has probably seen it. Have to talk to him anyway so will find out.