Colonial Patriotic button. Some 18th century copper coins and relics.

[Aureus]

The temperature in Quebec was unbearable in the last few weeks reaching 42 C ( 107 F) with humidity. This week it drastically fell so I finally manged to get out and check a new spot I was eager to explore as I suspected some early activity might have taken place in that wooded area. Haven't had much in the first few hours , just an occasional shot musket ball (still a good sign) until I started hearing some deep iron. Decided to concentrate on that area a bit more and all thou the finds weren't abundant pulled a few interesting ones.

First got some type of early wood working tool. Was hoping for an axe and worked really hard to get it out of the roots. Oh well..




A spill of George III halfpenny's. All from a small area so I guess lost at the same time.



A nice flower design pewter button. Strangely, it had an iron shank going right through.




And my favorite find of the day. A pewter button with the writing I AXE MY WAY. It was really hard to find any match online. The slogan itself seems to be associated with Connecticut. Albert mentions the button in his book (Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons).







I have only seen two mentions of the larger variety from Albert's book. One being sold at icollector online auction in 2011

http://www.icollector.com/I-Axe-My-Way-Political-Uniform-Pewter-Button_i11029527

Unfortunately no records of mine. If someone has any additional info it would be greatly appreciated.


A nice little hunt. Glad to have been able to get out again.

 

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[Aureus]

Certainly a unique pewter, fantastic group of digs Aureus

Thank you.

 

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[Aureus]

Nice button!

Thank you.

 

[Steve in PA]

Love that Axe button. Would love o dig one of those.

 

[Aureus]

Congrats, Anton, this is an incredible piece of history.

Folks, this is a serious find, and appears to be ULTRA RARE. Like, may be one of two in existence.

It's going to take a bit more research to see if it can be pinned down any further, but we've got a button that appears in one of the definitive reference materials yet doesn't show up elsewhere in searchable museum holdings or auction records. A larger cousin of this button has just a couple of examples on record...including the link posted to the one which sold for $1,200 six years ago. And the phrase does seem to be a derivative of "I cut my way through," found on fantastically rare and valuable Higley Coppers
View attachment 1500257
http://www.coinweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/higleyxpleasend.jpg


Looks like A. Albert (the author of the reference book) died in 1983, otherwise I would have emailed him : ) I've put a bit of time into this today and haven't found anything more, so hoping some others can chime in.


As it stands it is a banner worthy find. But the mystery still deserves to be solved...

Thank you Ken. I'm really curious about this button and I find it really unusual that no other matches were found after 4 days. The Albert's book has one so it must exist in someone's collection or a museum. The fact that the Connecticut coppers motto origins are a mystery as well isn't helping neither, otherwise it would provide at least a clue on who might have worn it. I really hope to get some more information on this find and that the mystery will be solved soon.



Thanks again for your comment and good luck on your future hunts!

 

[Aureus]

Congrats, Anton, this is an incredible piece of history.

Folks, this is a serious find, and appears to be ULTRA RARE. Like, may be one of two in existence.

It's going to take a bit more research to see if it can be pinned down any further, but we've got a button that appears in one of the definitive reference materials yet doesn't show up elsewhere in searchable museum holdings or auction records. A larger cousin of this button has just a couple of examples on record...including the link posted to the one which sold for $1,200 six years ago. And the phrase does seem to be a derivative of "I cut my way through," found on fantastically rare and valuable Higley Coppers

http://www.coinweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/higleyxpleasend.jpg


Looks like A. Albert (the author of the reference book) died in 1983, otherwise I would have emailed him : ) I've put a bit of time into this today and haven't found anything more, so hoping some others can chime in.


As it stands it is a banner worthy find. But the mystery still deserves to be solved...

P.S. Out of curiosity, I was looking everywhere to find the motto's meaning. Tried to translate it into latin and find a match, checked Masonic mottos, nothing. Then checked the Bible. Just as a theory. The motto might have been inspired by the passage from Isaiah 45:2 . Again, just a theory.

Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him And to loose the loins of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: 2"I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. 3"I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.…

In other words my crazy theory is that the Higley Coppers motto I cut my way through might have been inspired by the phrase originating in the Bible I will cut through their iron bars.

 

[Bramblefind]

What a great find!!

I also haven't been able to locate any additional information about your button. However I did find an article by Alphaeus Albert in the March/April 1970 National Button Bulletin that references the larger sized "I AXE MY WAY" button. He seems to think that based on construction it could be related to an 1849 button made for the Zachary Taylor presidential campaign.

Here is a scan of the article - also there are 4 listings for that button on Worthpoint. But I think it may only be 2 buttons - i.e the first button looks the same as the 4th (it was resold at a later date for a much higher price). Also the 2nd looks like the same as the 3rd - also resold...?

 

[Aureus]

Love that Axe button. Would love o dig one of those.

Thanks! Good luck on your hunts!

 

[Aureus]

What a great find!!

I also haven't been able to locate any additional information about your button. However I did find an article by Alphaeus Albert in the March/April 1970 National Button Bulletin that references the larger sized "I AXE MY WAY" button. He seems to think that based on construction it could be related to an 1849 button made for the Zachary Taylor presidential campaign.

Here is a scan of the article - also there are 4 listings for that button on Worthpoint. But I think it may only be 2 buttons - i.e the first button looks the same as the 4th (it was resold at a later date for a much higher price). Also the 2nd looks like the same as the 3rd - also resold...?

Awesome! Thank you for the info!

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

"I Axe my way " , is a wording lost in time , an enigma . That being the case makes the button unique which makes the collector value sky rocket well above a G $$$ . My kind of button . Hope those were lost in Jersey .

Congratz, Nice one !

 

[devldog]

Very nice finds indeed. Love that button. Stay on top of this area and Continued Success to you.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Outstanding hunt - WTG!!

 

[Aureus]

"I Axe my way " , is a wording lost in time , an enigma . That being the case makes the button unique which makes the collector value sky rocket well above a G $$$ . My kind of button . Hope those were lost in Jersey .

Congratz, Nice one !

Thank you. Can't really find a record of mine being in someone's collection or being sold. But it sure looks like it's an extremely rare button.

 

[Aureus]

Very nice finds indeed. Love that button. Stay on top of this area and Continued Success to you.

Thank you. Same to you.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Awesome find with a great mystery to boot, you certainly cannot beat that

After reading all the great discussion of the button, I do feel that the buttons with just the plain horizontal text are not related to the ones with the Axe logo, but what do I know

hh,
Cal

 

[Aureus]

Awesome find with a great mystery to boot, you certainly cannot beat that

After reading all the great discussion of the button, I do feel that the buttons with just the plain horizontal text are not related to the ones with the Axe logo, but what do I know

hh,
Cal

Thank you. They sure look different but Albert in his book thought they were related. Also, I couldn't find any other button with a similar slogan. For sure, a very mysterious find.

 

[Carolina Tom]

Congrats, as usual. vey nice set of finds.

That button is exceptional nice. Never seen one like that on TNet.

Best of luck to you sir!

 

[Aureus]

Congrats, as usual. vey nice set of finds.

That button is exceptional nice. Never seen one like that on TNet.

Best of luck to you sir!

Thank you. Same to you!

 

[Aureus]

Outstanding hunt - WTG!!

Thanks Bill.

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Aureus:

I've seen this button variety in Alberts' book, but I've never seen one before on T-Net or anywhere else. It must be exceedingly rare. Robert J. Silverstein has a very impressive website compiling images of all sorts of GWI and early patriotic buttons, including a lot of dug buttons, but not a single example of your button. I would contact him as he may be an excellent source for information and provide a place to have your button available for viewing online if you're interested. Here's the link.

George Washington Inaugural Buttons

Just scroll down from the very first page.

 

[Aureus]

Aureus:

I've seen this button variety in Alberts' book, but I've never seen one before on T-Net or anywhere else. It must be exceedingly rare. Robert J. Silverstein has a very impressive website compiling images of all sorts of GWI and early patriotic buttons, including a lot of dug buttons, but not a single example of your button. I would contact him as he may be an excellent source for information and provide a place to have your button available for viewing online if you're interested. Here's the link.

George Washington Inaugural Buttons

Just scroll down from the very first page.

Thank you Silver Tree Chaser.
It's a bit disappointing to not be able to find any extra information on that button with zero examples in other collections so far. Even though all the serious collectors I have shown it to have seen the picture of it in the book and agree it's extremely rare. Unfortunately, none could provide me with any additional details on the period it was made at and the intended purpose of the message written on it. At this point,I'm wondering where did the button in Albert's book come from in the first place...
Thanks again and I will try to contact the person you've suggested.