Civil War Button ID Help Needed

[vabuckhunter]

Can anyone help ID this button? Cant find one like it on the web without a letter in the shield

 

[jewelerguy]

not that I know much about CW relics, but isn't that a Confederate staff officer button?

 

[geologyjohn]

Looks like a Confederate local staff button. Nice find!!!

 

[danimal03]

This button does not match any of the published CS officer's buttons. Note the more modern 'dots' in the entire surface. I believe this is a blazer type button that may be about 50 years old. A picture of the back may help the timeframe. If it is a blazer button it likely has a rusted over iron back.

 

[vabuckhunter]

The shank on the back is gone and there is a rust spot where the shank would have been. What exactly do you mean by a blazer button

 

[vabuckhunter]

This was dug at a site where Stonewall had 10,000 troops camped out so I find it hard to believe its not civil war but I guess anything is possible.

 

[danimal03]

It could be a little older than 50 years. The patriotic motifs have been around on commercial items for a long time. If the site is mostly pure than possibly a returning veteran could have worn it on his coat since it is s imiliar the the droop wing eagle favored by CS forces. Though there are unpublished CS buttons I only know of two. I have not personally seen this button before it just does not have the right look to it. The little micro dots are problematic and suggestive of later manufacture. Patriotic 'Navy' type blazer buttons are found all the time and are commonly mistaken for earlier navy button. I study buttons closely and have an example of every issued branch of service, and every state north and south in my collection. I do not believe this to be a pre-1865 button. But I can see the resemblance to the preferred southern droop wing patriotic style. I just think it was easier to fit a bigger eagle with droop wings on this particular button by the manufacturer. And that is not to say the maker had not seen a southern droop wing button and was loosely basing it on this potentially for market in the post war south. But that is just pure speculation. A pic of the back would be more conclusive. Southern war time iron backs are pretty easy to tell. But I am guessing this example is a flat type back more associated with later buttons. Good luck at the site and there has to be some nice relics lurking about.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Another possibility is it could be a re-enactor's button.

 

[HomeGuardDan]

100% not a civil war button. Post a picture of the back and it will tell us more. With the stippled field and the design of the button I would say turn of the century to 1940s blazer button or WWI or WWII foreign button. French and Prussian buttons from the 1900s used droop wing eagles as well.

 

[vabuckhunter]

Here is a picture of the back

 

[HomeGuardDan]

Here is a picture of the back

Def a civilian blazer button from the 1900's. 100% positive from the view of the back...it is a tin back with what is called a late turret or slit attachment/shank. That dome would have a small pin cavity in it for the thread, different that the typical construction of 1850s-1860s buttons.

 

[vabuckhunter]

The button is basically smooshed flat if that matters?

 

[danimal03]

Yeah for sure post 1865 based on front and back. The flat back is more of a give way than the front. Anyway nice find and beats what I find today which was nothing.

 

[Gaspipe]

Nice button and I learned a lot from this thread.

 

[I-DIG-IT]

Nice digs.

 

[vabuckhunter]

Well I appreciate all yall busting my bubble lol, have only found one other civil war button so I was pretty excited about this one. I appreciate the learning experience from you guys.

 

[coinman123]

Nice Confederate button!