Button...our first ring...with maybe diamonds? 1683 Mass Property

[btjbtj]

Hi all, John dug a few items out of the revolutionary site this afternoon. One of them looks like a big ring, but it doesn't appear there is a stone in the shank. However, if you look closely, you can see the brilliance of what appears to be a diamond chip on the band itself. We have not attempted to clean this for fear of loosening any other "diamond" chips that might be on it. I'm not sure what to think of this thing. Not sure what material the band is either. The other item is a button with a strange insignia on it. I haven't been able to research it yet, so if it looks familiar to anyone, we'd love to hear about it. Happy digs, and many thanks for looking. -Lisa & John

 

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[btjbtj]

Update (sort of): The button is about the size of a dime, so perhaps a cuff button. The closest I can find is a Confederate script C cuff button, except our button has a sunburst, and the example I found doesn't. Hmmm... L&J

 

[s.c.shooter]

Something about the button makes me think that its earlier than Civil War. Just my gut instinct. Let us know if you find out. Great finds either way.

 

[btjbtj]

Something about the button makes me think that its earlier than Civil War. Just my gut instinct. Let us know if you find out. Great finds either way.

SC, I agree, but I can't match it up to 1812 or Rev. Maybe it's not military--who knows. I'll keep sesrching. Thanks for your comment. -L&J

 

[A2coins]

Hey Lisa John sweet finds nice ring I would get it professionally clean doesn't cost much nice old relics Thanks for sharing

 

[btjbtj]

Hey Lisa John sweet finds nice ring I would get it professionally clean doesn't cost much nice old relics Thanks for sharing

Thanks Tommy, yeah, we don't want to take a toothbrush to the ring--looks old, and we're not sure what is holding the diamonds in. Perhaps you're right--maybe we'll have a pro look at it. Thanks for commenting! -L&J

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on some nice old finds

 

[btjbtj]

Congrats on some nice old finds

Thanks, Trapper! -L&J

 

[OBN]

Very interesting old ring!! Please post us a final cleaning picture. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Scrappy]

The button has a civil war letter style to it, so I thumbed through Albert's button book. I found something very similar but yours looks like a variant of this...

There are more detailed button books out there, and some very smart CW buffs in Tnet, but hopefully this will set you in the right direction.

Great find. It could be even rarer than the version listed....

Also, that ring looks like perhaps a trade ring. It's unlikely to be a wedding band.

Cheers

Steve

 

[btjbtj]

The button has a civil war letter style to it, so I thumbed through Albert's button book. I found something very similar but yours looks like a variant of this...View attachment 1361878View attachment 1361879

There are more detailed button books out there, and some very smart CW buffs in Tnet, but hopefully this will set you in the right direction.

Great find. It could be even rarer than the version listed....

Also, that ring looks like perhaps a trade ring. It's unlikely to be a wedding band.

Cheers

Steve

Steve, thanks so much for your reply and for posting the photos. The sea does look the same, but I just can't explain the Sunburst. Hopefully a CW expert will chime in. I did email Sergeant Rikers trading post to see if he could figure it out, but I haven't heard back. I wonder if it might be in Tice's book. We don't have one, and they are so expensive now, that it's a bit out of the budget for the time being. As far as the ring goes, I hate to say this, but I don't know what a trade ring is. Is that like swapping something for something else? I'll have to try to clean the thing when I see John next. Take care and thanks again. -L&J

 

[btjbtj]

Very interesting old ring!! Please post us a final cleaning picture. Thanks for sharing!

Hi OBN, thanks for your reply. I'll be sure to read post a photo of the ring once I figure out how to delicately clean it. Take care. -L&J

 

[BARKER]

Hi; DO NOT CLEAN THAT RING.!!!! Let a Pro do it. If the stones are loose he will fix them. If it is Plated you could destroy the plating. Second is the button. Soak it in Lemon Juice & water. a 50/50 mix overnight. Then GENTLY "push" the loose dirt off with a wooden tooth pick. Do not scratch at it. We need the back marks to ID it ok. Nice finds. PEACE:RONB

 

[btjbtj]

Hi; DO NOT CLEAN THAT RING.!!!! Let a Pro do it. If the stones are loose he will fix them. If it is Plated you could destroy the plating. Second is the button. Soak it in Lemon Juice & water. a 50/50 mix overnight. Then GENTLY "push" the loose dirt off with a wooden tooth pick. Do not scratch at it. We need the back marks to ID it ok. Nice finds. PEACE:RONB

Ron, as always, thanks so much for your advice. Peace to you, also. L&J

 

[Diggin Dude]

Nice finds! And Scrappy to the rescue identifying that awesome civil war button!
Congrats and HH

 

[btjbtj]

Nice finds! And Scrappy to the rescue identifying that awesome civil war button!
Congrats and HH

Thanks, Diggin! Yeah, Scrappy is always helpful. Still trying to figure out why our button has a sunburst though! L&J

 

[DetectingGodlikeOnOlympus]

It's not a civil war button. The script letter bears similarity to a script letter on a known civil war button, but that's all there is to it. It's a similarity of *font*, and nothing more.

Civil war era military buttons are very well documented at this point, including rare locally made examples.

The particular artifact in question is still awaiting identification in my opinion.

 

[btjbtj]

It's not a civil war button. The script letter bears similarity to a script letter on a known civil war button, but that's all there is to it. It's a similarity of *font*, and nothing more.

Civil war era military buttons are very well documented at this point, including rare locally made examples.

The particular artifact in question is still awaiting identification in my opinion.

Thanks for your reply. Another member here also said the button looks older than Civil War. Who knows, maybe it is a civilian button with someone's initial on it? The search goes on. -L&J

 

[Iron Patch]

There is livery buttons with a script C design, and would date just before the Civil War. Seeing the back may tell the story, or at least strongly suggest that's what it is.

 

[btjbtj]

There is livery buttons with a script C design, and would date just before the Civil War. Seeing the back may tell the story, or at least strongly suggest that's what it is.

Iron, attached are better photos of the front and back. Also, the diameter is 9/16". Thanks for any help you can give. -L&J