British navy anchor flat button

[K1DDO1979]

Found another anchor button today but the condition of this one is better than most of the others. It has a lot of crust on it but I see the gilt still on underneath. I hunted a old cellar hole that the deed dates back to at least the 1830's. I'm sure there will be plenty more finds when the grass dies off. I also got some oxen shoes and axe heads today because all these military buckle finds etc. people on tnet have been digging lately has been making me want to check some bigger signals in these old spots. The button was around 4"inches deep under a flat stone beside the foundation. Thanks for looking!

 

[WheatWaffle]

Nice find!

 

[ironhorse]

That's fairly nice old one!

Not that bad for a couple of centuries in the ground at least

My personal opinion, that button would clean up fairly nice after a lemon juice bath, at least the corrosion would come off for the most part and it would bring up some of the remaining guilding
It's your button and you alone should decide whether or not to do anything to it , I do not advocate cleaning for the most part, but I do see some potential in yours being a bit better than the soil left it
A good find any day of the week

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Yes I agree with IH.
Nice find, and "probably" in the 1912 era.

 

[K1DDO1979]

Yes I agree with IH. Nice find, and "probably" in the 1912 era.

I hope you meant to type 1812 era?

 

[K1DDO1979]

That's fairly nice old one! Not that bad for a couple of centuries in the ground at least My personal opinion, that button would clean up fairly nice after a lemon juice bath, at least the corrosion would come off for the most part and it would bring up some of the remaining guilding It's your button and you alone should decide whether or not to do anything to it , I do not advocate cleaning for the most part, but I do see some potential in yours being a bit better than the soil left it A good find any day of the week

I have some other types of buttons with remaining gilt also that may do good with a lemon juice bath. I just never actually done it yet but seen some nice results from others doing it before. Any instructions for the lemon juice process that may help?

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I hope you meant to type 1812 era?

Yes of course obviously. Type too fast...read too slow. (smiley laughing too)

 

[ironhorse]

Practice with the plain ones you have lying around and experiment with soak times and if you have an old soft toothbrush, or a new one, use it to gently brush away dirt with lj after a few minutes
some take only a few minutes, some more
once you see results on other buttons you don't mind cleaning , move on to ones you do care about more
rinse it off when reach the level of cleaning you are happy with
not every button turns out the same, so be aware if that

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

According to the following website, which I consider to be much more accurate that most others:
Diana's Buttons - Reference - British Navy Buttons
"When the [British] Merchant Navy started to use the fouled anchor design, a crown was added to all naval officers' buttons, starting in 1812. This same basic design remains in use today."

Your 1-piece brass British Navy button has three time-identifying characteristics:
1- no crown,
2-the anchor is shown inside an oval-shaped border (which Merchant Navy buttons never had),
3- it has a raised-lettering backmark.
That COMBINATION of characteristics means it dates from sometime between about 1790 and 1811.

 

[CASPER-2]

VERY NICE

 

[K1DDO1979]

According to the following website, which I consider to be much more accurate that most others: Diana's Buttons - Reference - British Navy Buttons "When the [British] Merchant Navy started to use the fouled anchor design, a crown was added to all naval officers' buttons, starting in 1812. This same basic design remains in use today." Your 1-piece brass British Navy button has three time-identifying characteristics: 1- no crown, 2-the anchor is shown inside an oval-shaped border (which Merchant Navy buttons never had), 3- it has a raised-lettering backmark. That COMBINATION of characteristics means it dates from sometime between about 1790 and 1811.

Sweet info. Thanks!

 

[Silver Searcher]

Nice button, I wouldn't bath it in lemon juice, it would be better to use a cotton bud with the lemon juice. Bathing it could strip it back to that awful purple colour.

SS

 

[K1DDO1979]

Nice button, I wouldn't bath it in lemon juice, it would be better to use a cotton bud with the lemon juice. Bathing it could strip it back to that awful purple colour. SS

I prob would try the cotton idea to see what happens. Probably a dumb question but would you squeeze a real lemon or just buy one of those plastic lemons full of juice? Or will one work better than the other? I have never done it before!

 

[cjon455]

that's a nice button, I like digging flat buttons almost as much as coins

almost

 

[Silver Searcher]

I prob would try the cotton idea to see what happens. Probably a dumb question but would you squeeze a real lemon or just buy one of those plastic lemons full of juice? Or will one work better than the other? I have never done it before!

I use both, all depends on what the wife has bought. If there is a heavy build up on the button (hard to see from pic) try using some olive oil, and a tooth pick.

SS

 

[I-DIG-IT]

Nice digs.

 

[Iron Patch]

It's a British Royal Navy Commissioned Officer button and dates 1787-1795.

Definitely worth cleaning.

 

[Iron Patch]

I prob would try the cotton idea to see what happens. Probably a dumb question but would you squeeze a real lemon or just buy one of those plastic lemons full of juice? Or will one work better than the other? I have never done it before!

It's true it could change color a little, most likely brown and orange, but usually that's better than leaving them caked with crud, plus sometimes you get the surprise of seeing some gilt you had no idea was there. As for the process, it's an all of nothing deal... either drop it in the lemon, and brush it a little every few minutes and see how it goes, or leave it as is. It's not like tying to remove a stain from a silver coin where you can baby it. Either type of lemon will work fine... fresh, squeeze plastic juice, or bottled juice. I always have a bottle in my fridge.



ps: Want me to show you up again?

 

[K1DDO1979]

It's true it could change color a little, most likely brown and orange, but usually that's better than leaving them caked with crud, plus sometimes you get the surprise of seeing some gilt you had no idea was there. As for the process, it's an all of nothing deal... either drop it in the lemon, and brush it a little every few minutes and see how it goes, or leave it as is. It's not like tying to remove a stain from a silver coin where you can baby it. Either type of lemon will work fine... fresh, squeeze plastic juice, or bottled juice. I always have a bottle in my fridge. ps: Want me to show you up again?

Haha show me up. I'm use to it!

 

[Iron Patch]

Haha show me up. I'm use to it!

Soon you'll find something I have no counter for.