Button Find at the Family Homestead 11-22-2025

[sibbley]

Back to the family homestead yesterday. Worked around the house and blacksmith shop. Didn't do very well, lots of trash. However, in the front of the home I did find a small brass button. No back mark that I can see, can't really get a handle on the shank to date it. Looks like a two-piece cuff or child's clothing button. Anybody have any idea on date range? Penny in the one pic is for size reference. We've found items from the mid to late 1700's on this property. I'm trying to determine if this button fits that range. I was hoping since it was found in front of the house porch, it would be 1830's - 1840's which would make it an item lost by an ancestor.

Thanks for looking...

 

[Fredneck]

The button date does match up with your ancestors. These buttons, known as "flower buttons", are often found on Civil War sites, and usually clean up nice with gold gilt still remaining on them,

 

[Gare]

Sibbley you did great Thank you for sharing with us

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Nice one !

 

[oldmxrat]

Very nice, congrats!

 

[TicTac Coins]

Cool little button! Clean it up some and look for the "blow hole" if it is a two piece. They used to do that to let gases escape when producing them.

 

[sibbley]

No blow holes. Seems to be pressed together. No gilt either. I'll post pics of it cleaned later.

 

[Mike N Tn.]

Nice find! I love those flower buttons! Congrats.

 

[invent4hir]

That would be so cool if you figure out it was lost by an ancestor. If not 100%, just ruling out the other possibilities would get you close enough to stir your imagination. At that point I'd definitely consider putting it in a display case along with its story. My icon is a pic of a display case I did for my ancestor. At the lower right is a brass ring, which he could have worn. While unable to prove, just the possibility stirs my imagination.

 

[TORRERO]

Back to the family homestead yesterday. Worked around the house and blacksmith shop. Didn't do very well, lots of trash. However, in the front of the home I did find a small brass button. No back mark that I can see, can't really get a handle on the shank to date it. Looks like a two-piece cuff or child's clothing button. Anybody have any idea on date range? Penny in the one pic is for size reference. We've found items from the mid to late 1700's on this property. I'm trying to determine if this button fits that range. I was hoping since it was found in front of the house porch, it would be 1830's - 1840's which would make it an item lost by an ancestor.

View attachment 2234725View attachment 2234726View attachment 2234727View attachment 2234728View attachment 2234729View attachment 2234730View attachment 2234731

Thanks for looking...

Im with the others who say this is 1830-1860 probably… I’m not sure when they started making those 2 piece buttons but earlier than 1840 probably were just one piece..

 

[sibbley]

It's either "F" or "I". With no back mark my mind wants to say "F" which is 1812 - 1830. At this time my family actually lived just up the street at a property I have not been able to gain access to.

 

[sibbley]

Cleaned button.

 

[sibbley]

The button date does match up with your ancestors. These buttons, known as "flower buttons", are often found on Civil War sites, and usually clean up nice with gold gilt still remaining on them,

Im with the others who say this is 1830-1860 probably… I’m not sure when they started making those 2 piece buttons but earlier than 1840 probably were just one piece..

Just got even more confirmation of the date ranges for the button. Looks like I've now actually found an item lost by an ancestor! Thanks!

 

[TORRERO]

I hunted Napoleon sites in Spain years ago and that was up until 1815, all the buttons we dug related to that era were strictly one piece buttons. Like I said, I don’t think 2 piece buttons came into use until after 1840-50ish clearly they were used during the American Civil War almost exclusively..

 

[Trezurehunter]

Very nice, buttons are always a good find.

 

[Digger RJ]

Back to the family homestead yesterday. Worked around the house and blacksmith shop. Didn't do very well, lots of trash. However, in the front of the home I did find a small brass button. No back mark that I can see, can't really get a handle on the shank to date it. Looks like a two-piece cuff or child's clothing button. Anybody have any idea on date range? Penny in the one pic is for size reference. We've found items from the mid to late 1700's on this property. I'm trying to determine if this button fits that range. I was hoping since it was found in front of the house porch, it would be 1830's - 1840's which would make it an item lost by an ancestor.

View attachment 2234725View attachment 2234726View attachment 2234727View attachment 2234728View attachment 2234729View attachment 2234730View attachment 2234731

Thanks for looking...

Nice!!! Congrats!!!