Civil War Marine Button

[metaldiggr]

With temps in the mid-90's today we decided to do some river hunting. I don't have much time in the water so it was def a learning experience, towards the end of the evening I had a decent grasp on what I was doing. I hate coming home empty handed, found this just before we left. I'm really surprised to find this... there's no civil war anything in my area.

Should I do anything with it as far as cleaning it or anything?

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

The reason you found it in an area where "there's no civil war anything" is, your US Marines button is not from the civil war era. According to the McGuinn-&-Bazelon book on dating buttons by their backmarks, the Scovill backmark which has a ring/circle under the letters but not above the letters -- and no "star" or "dot" (or similar mark) before and after the word Waterbury dates from 1880 to 1920.

That being said... in your photo, there APPEARS to be no star or dot before and after Waterbury. But the backmark looks corroded, making it look faint. You can examine it super-closely in real-life, and we can't. Is there a star or dot before and after Waterbury?

 

[Elvis]

Cool find!!!

 

[erfranks]

Nice Saves, love finding those buttons...

 

[Dug]

What CannonBallGuy says is king, back mark is the primary dating source of buttons.

Additionally the earlier 2 piece Marine buttons were high dome where as yours is almost flat, and the civil war period Marine buttons' eagle's wings had a tendency to be more horizontal then droop wing.

I would not take the cleaning any farther than you have.

 

[metaldiggr]

The reason you found it in an area where "there's no civil war anything" is, your US Marines button is not from the civil war era. According to the McGuinn-&-Bazelon book on dating buttons by their backmarks, the Scovill backmark which has a ring/circle under the letters but not above the letters -- and no "star" or "dot" (or similar mark) before and after the word Waterbury dates from 1880 to 1920.

That being said... in your photo, there APPEARS to be no star or dot before and after Waterbury. But the backmark looks corroded, making it look faint. You can examine it super-closely in real-life, and we can't. Is there a star or dot before and after Waterbury?

Thanks for the info! There's no star or dot so it must be 1880 - 1920. I recently found this in the area, in an old home-site that dated mid 1800's.

I would not take the cleaning any farther than you have.

Roger that! That's how it came out of the water. Thanks!

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

great find! wtg

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Metaldiggr wrote:
> Thanks for the info! There's no star or dot so it must be 1880 - 1920. I recently found this in the area, in an old home-site that dated mid 1800's.

Thanks for providing that additional info, confirming there's no star or dot. The photo of the US Army enlisted-man's button you posted also tends to confirm the time-period... because it is the "high-raised shield" version in use from 1875 to 1902. (Button-collectors call that version the Indian Wars eagle-button.)

 

[metaldiggr]

Metaldiggr wrote:
> Thanks for the info! There's no star or dot so it must be 1880 - 1920. I recently found this in the area, in an old home-site that dated mid 1800's.

Thanks for providing that additional info, confirming there's no star or dot. The photo of the US Army enlisted-man's button you posted also tends to confirm the time-period... because it is the "high-raised shield" version in use from 1875 to 1902. (Button-collectors call that version the Indian Wars eagle-button.)

I almost went home with a pocket full of modern copper last night... I'll take it. Thanks again for the info!

 

[texjim]

Still a cool button. Nice job

 

[JeffInMass]

Sweet find- Congrats!

 

[Davers]

The reason you found it in an area where "there's no civil war anything" is, your US Marines button is not from the civil war era. According to the McGuinn-&-Bazelon book on dating buttons by their backmarks, the Scovill backmark which has a ring/circle under the letters but not above the letters -- and no "star" or "dot" (or similar mark) before and after the word Waterbury dates from 1880 to 1920.

That being said... in your photo, there APPEARS to be no star or dot before and after Waterbury. But the backmark looks corroded, making it look faint. You can examine it super-closely in real-life, and we can't. Is there a star or dot before and after Waterbury?

I dug a 'cuff' style of this button last Friday (Sept 22 . 2023 ).

It was found off and old road used back in the 1860's & a Couple miles from where I have dug other Civil War Relics .

The Face is Nice for it's age but the back does have the Shank tho it is pushed in & the blackmark was hard to read ( I think I saw 1 letter as I was focused on the face , hoping it was a Rebel Staff Button or a LA Button ) , turned out not to be but ill take it as I have neve dug one like that .

Ill do some tooth picking to look for the " dot's" & figure out it's BM as best I can , even if it's post CW ill be happy cause the face looks good / shows it's age and will display well,

Thanks to the OP for posting this back in 2021 ? ( I think ) & Thanks to TCBG & his Library of knowledge on this subject.

Davey in NW (Cobb County Georgia ).