Early navy cuff button?

[Gregg3131]

Found this at an early homesite. Very small is this an early navy cuff button ? Looks like an encrusted tin back small flat button for size

 

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[duggap]

A navy button with an iron back would mean it's a fashion button from a blazer.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

That's a nice find Greg.

Your button could be representative of an early version of a US Merchant Navy button copying the British Merchant Navy buttons from the mid-19thc period.
As duggap suggested, this may be a two-piece “fashion button from a blazer.”

“Brass buttons featuring a fouled anchor surmounted by a British Royal Crown first made their appearance in 1812 and the same basic design remains in use today.
Queen Victoria's death in 1901 brought a change of crown to what is known as a Tudor or Imperial Crown (aka King's Crown).”

Here is an example of a couple of British Merchant Navy buttons from the early 20thc compared to the example you found.
Dave

 

[Rookster]

Yep. Looks like one. Nice recovery.

 

[Gregg3131]

Confirmed mid 1800s Kepi button

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Duggap wrote:
> A navy button with an iron back would mean it's a fashion button from a blazer.

This is intended only a friendly educational correction. Duggap is "generally" correct... US Navy UNIFORM buttons never had an iron/steel back, because salty ocean air causes the back to rust, making a stain on the uniform. The exception to that rule is the "miniature" (cuff-size/kepi-size approximately 14mm) US Navy buttons which attached the leather chinstrap to the navy's version of kepi hat. A rust-stain wouldn't show on the black leather chinstrap. I believe Gregg3131 found an 1830s version US Navy kepi-chinstrap button.

 

[Gregg3131]

Wonderful information Cannonball guy thank you. Never seen one of these before? Are they rare at all ?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Gregg3131 asked:
> Wonderful information Cannonball guy thank you.
> Never seen one of these before? Are they rare at all ?

First... you're welcome.

Second... you found the 1830s version of US Navy kepi (hat) chinstrap ironback button, which is extremely rare. I've seen only one other specimen. The vast majority which have been excavated are the civil war era version (the eagle stands on a horizontal anchor).​

 

[Dug]

Sorry I missed this thread when it was first posted but I was on the other side of the planet trying to dodge the Kung Flu.

Not to hijack a thread, but thought I would post an anomaly to the tin back military service button discussion. Not sure the circumstance of how a tin back ended up on a Marine coat button but I dug this button in coastal SC Lowcountry in an area along the islands edge. As seen in the pictures the button faces are similar but when turned over you can see the subject button in the center with the tin back oxidized.