Button ID

[Newt]

Should I clean it?
It's a bit smaller than a quarter. Flat Button.
It has a wreath on the back and some writing around the shank.
Newt

Thanks for all your help guys!
Newt

 

[Iron Patch]

True. I just like the natural look and not the varnished look.

Personal preference I guess.

Daryl

But what is natural about it? You already cleaned it, and does not look like the original condition. Almsot all my finds with a green patina I don't coat with anything and that is what I consider natural. I'll bet in person the majority would choose my waxed buttons over leaving them dry. World of difference.

 

[BioProfessor]

I did not clean anything but dirt off. The surface is unaltered.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

I did not clean anything but dirt off. The surface is unaltered.

Daryl

But it sounds like you don't find many like that. You did just post this...

"That cleaned up great. I wish the soil I hunt in was that nice to coins and buttons.

A lot of of my coins and buttons look like this one.

Daryl"


It doesn't change the fact it's a dried out gilt button. Not for me.

 

[BioProfessor]

Most of the buttons I find are not gold gilt. Those that are are usually in good shape. 350 year old copper coins. Not so good.

I guess I think buttons are naturally dry and not wet. I just like them to look like they would if they were being worn. Not like they have been mounted in a display. I just don't think they were ever that shiny as bare metal and I don't want an artificial look. Just trying to keep it real. Just me I guess.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

Most of the buttons I find are not gold gilt. Those that are are usually in good shape. 350 year old copper coins. Not so good.

I just like them to look like they would if they were being worn.

Daryl

That's why I wax my best gilted or silver ones! Why do you think the officers polished them, so they would shine. When you leave them dry there too much blotchy white streaks and to me it looks bad. The pitting on the button doesn't help, and is more visible in person, but I'll take that in the trade off to have it looking like this.

 

[BioProfessor]

Just looks fake to me. Police officers shinning bare metal. Geez, they need a new badge.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

Just looks fake to me. Police officers shinning bare metal. Geez, they need a new badge.

Daryl

Not sure how leaving it dried out and not looking as good would make it look more real, but that's ok. I've yet to have anyone look at my buttons and think they looked fake.

 

[BioProfessor]

Not saying the buttons are fake. The finish just doesn't look real. Not what you would see when the buttons were in use.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

Not saying the buttons are fake. The finish just doesn't look real. Not what you would see when the buttons were in use.

Daryl

And your dried out ones are closer to what they would look like when they were in use? I don't think so.

 

[BioProfessor]

Ah, yes they are. And shiny on a coat. Never.

 

[BioProfessor]

This is as seen on a coat.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

Ah, yes they are. And shiny on a coat. Never.

Say what! There was a lot more than just buttons that had to shine! Many buttons even show wear from the many times they were polished.

"Than they had to powder their hair, they had to shine at least a dozen brass buttons on their red coats. All white facings had to be whitened with pipe clay, and finally their shoes had to shine like new. The last article to be put on were the white gaiters, which were whitened with pipe clay and put on WET to insure they fit tight when dried. The cross belt, waist belt, carriage box, were all whitened with pipe clay and finally the 'Brown Bess', the soldier's gun polished until it gleamed, the brown having long been rubbed off so the gun gleamed of polished steel"

http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/soldiersofking.html

 

[BioProfessor]

Don't know what this has to do with metal with missing guilt but thanks for the info.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

This is as seen on a coat.

Daryl

So a brand new coat in the 1860s had buttons that looked like that?

 

[BioProfessor]

That is a button taken from a coat in the 1860's. Yes, that is what they looked like when in use.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

Don't know what this has to do with metal with missing guilt but thanks for the info.

Daryl

It has to do with what you said above. - "Ah, yes they are. And shiny on a coat. Never."

 

[BioProfessor]

Buttons on a coat were never shiny like the ones you posted. They are like the ones I posted. They don't look varnished. They look slick and dry.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

That is a button taken from a coat in the 1860's. Yes, that is what they looked like when in use.

Daryl

So they were never shiny? You're trying to spin this in circles because that's not even in great condition by 2010 standards.

Anyway, this is not getting anywhere now so I probably don't have much more to say.

 

[Iron Patch]

Buttons on a coat were never shiny like the ones you posted. They are like the ones I posted. They don't look varnished. They look slick and dry.

Daryl

Then it's odd they use the word shine in the post I quoted if they were just slicking them up.

Again your spinning because in the case of my button it dates fromn the 1770s/80s. Of course it's not going to be the exact same.... but you were trying to say they didn't shine, and you have been shown you are wrong.

 

[BioProfessor]

The gilt was shiny but bare metal with missing gilt not. Not spinning in circles. I've said this all along.

Daryl