Button Up Mister!!!

saftgeek · Feb 6, 2012

Okay... I recently bought an Etrac and man is this thing smart! It's way smarter than I am. I've been trying to learn the sounds and numbers but my spots are super trashy and it's very difficult to learn. I have managed to eek out a few decent finds. I'm killing the pennies... I found a 1919 and a 1934, so I'm getting deep. I just need to find a spot where some silver lives. Sooner or later. Back on topic!!! ADHD knows no age.

Tonight I went to an old homestead which had stood for over 100 years. We recently purchased the property and tore down all the structures. I was doing my best to try to find solid repeatable signals to dig. There was so much trash that I had to keep moving closer to the wood-line, away from where the house was torn down. As I was moving the coil I got a very solid signal that repeated no matter which way I turned the coil. Even though it didn't have CO numbers in the 40's I decided I would still dig... Man am I glad I did!!! This cool little eagle button popped out when I rolled the plug. I couldn't tell what it was but I knew it was old due to the patina. The button is smaller than a dime and has the eagle with arrows on the right side. The shield is just lines straight up and down, no letter on it. If anyone could tell me when, what, etc... I would be very grateful. Some tips on how to tame the Etrac would be nice as well.

Saftgeek

tomjiggy · Feb 7, 2012

I'm not a button expert, but I know you need to take some better pics of it before you are gonna get any answers...waiting on those pics

saftgeek · Feb 7, 2012

Oh what a fickle bunch... I will try to get better pics but I'm afraid even at higher resolution this button isn't much. I'm not looking for undeserved praise, just a heads-up on how old it could be. I can't make out the writing on the back and the little button is fragile as all get out.

Thanks for looking... Saftgeek-

CC Hunter · Feb 7, 2012

Good quality photos are indeed beneficial for proper identification. Although a bit blurry, there is actually enough information here for us to to go on.

The item is a General Service U.S. Eagle Button, cuff size, ca. 1854-1875. Used by enlisted men in all branches of U.S. land service during the era.

CC Hunter

saftgeek · Feb 7, 2012

Thank you Mr Hunter.
The home place where this was found supposidly had pieces of the displays from the 1904 World's Fair in it. They had columns and a fireplace mantle which was part of the displys built solely for the St Louis fair.. This house was over 100 easily. I'm going to see what else lies in wait there if the weather cooperates. So far an amazing winter here. 40-60 degree days in Jan and Feb... thank you global warming.
Saftgeek