✅ SOLVED Civil war navy button?

[TheBestFindsNC]

Found this at a known civil war camp area. Both union and confederates were there. Please let me know as much as you know.

 

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[HutSiteDigger]

I hope CannonBallGuy or even CCHunter can weigh in on it very shortly! The size and rim of this button is throwing me off but maybe it is just the photo. The back of the button looks like it can clean up pretty good for a back-mark if you know how. I know the back looks pretty bad but it should with proper cleaning, clean up... I will wait too see what others have too say!

 

[CC Hunter]

The button is a relatively more modern fashion button, roughly copying the style of a U.S. Navy button. The wide border detail, crude die-work, black enamel type "false patina" coating, poorly constructed heavily rusted back, are but a few of the factors that undeniably account for this being a 20th Century fashion button, navy style, worn on blazer coats and sport coats.

Above the button, are more modern machine made bullets. To the right in our view, round pistol or rifle balls, dating from the mid 19th Century on back to earlier times. The flat one-piece button on the left with the "GILT" backmark, dates about 1820-1840, and could have seen use in the Civil War period, although this is generally a civilian type of button (assuming the face is entirely plain with no markings).

CC Hunter

 

[vpnavy]

The gang will jump in shorty to help ID - but had to say nice finds TheBestFinds.

 

[hotrod]

that is cool!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

CC Hunter is correct in everything he said about the button -- it is definitely a 20th-Century imitation of a US Navy button, manufactured for use on civilian clothing. In addition to having an iron back, another major ID-clue about it being a civilian "Fashion" clothing button is, the rope border encircling the stars does not go through the ring on the anchor's top. Compare it with the actual US Navy button in the photo below, whose rope border does go through the anchor's ring.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I agree its a 20th century steel back civilian fashion button with a navy motiff. You will not be able to clean up that to see a backmark.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Since it is a Iron back button you are right, the back won't clean up..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Since it is a Iron back button you are right, the back won't clean up..

Even if it was possible to clean up this rust, these type of steel back fashion buttons rarely have any backmark. I say rarely because I have seen a couple backmarked steel buttons in my lifetime but the far majority are simply blank.