EDITED June 1, 2025 Possible "Button From Washington's Coat..." Let me hear yalls take on this button!

[Trash404]

EDITED ON: June 1, 2025
After digging for a while, I actually think I found the maker based off the FC makers mark. I believe it's close the marks from Francis Crump (1711-1800s) who was a London silversmith. I have found marks that look on point with the "F C" part but I have yet to find one of his marks that is contained in a heart. That being said, do y'all think the backmarks on the button are similar to these images I found for F. Crump's works?

Hello again!

Similar to my last posts, I would like to provide context to how I came across any items I post. I recently came into possession of a few items purchased from an in-person auction up here in the DE/PA area & would like to know more about what I've found... it contained pins, tokens, coins, buttons, & more.

For this post item specifically, it was located in a box labeled "Buttons" which contained... you guessed it.... buttons! haha this one is particularly interesting due to the description written on the 2x2 plastic paper insert that was written by the original owner (unknown). It is stored in a plastic dual compartment 2x2 with a handwritten labeled that states "Button from Washington's coat with FC Hallmark Twice"

Composition: Unknown but NON-Magnetic
Obverse: No legible marking/writing
Reverse: Two hallmark stamps (one on top right & one of the bottom left); Both with "FC[:]" above some sort of flower or sun shaped stamp; Letters & sun/flow/sunflower are all surrounded/encased within a heart-like shape.

I would not know if this is a legit button from Washington's coat nor would I know how to verify it to be true or false, but either way, I think it's a rather interesting find!

I can't find much on the hallmark stamp, but I bet y'all will help me figure it out!

Any/ALL opinions are welcome (actually preferred)! I would love to hear yalls take on this button! Please let me know if I may provide any further information, pictures, etc. but truly ANY guidance &/or information (even fun facts) will be much appreciated!

 

[Trash404]

This doesn’t help much, if at all, but I’ve checked every reference publication I have (and there are a lot) for that mark on buttons, metalware and such, but have drawn a blank.

There were at least three American silversmiths (they would have been using coin silver) marking their work with ‘FC’ initials during the relevant period for Washington but no record of them using the initials in a heart-shaped cartouche, nor with that little emblem underneath.

There's also no evidence for them being know as button-makers in a commercial sense, but a special button in coin silver would be outside that kind of categorisation and still a possibility. That's a long shot though.

I did the same thing.. researching button backmarks, jewelry hallmarks, even metal & pottery markings in general & the heart outline of the stamp mark (which you would think would make it the easiest shape to be found) is the part does not seem to match anywhere!

Also, I want to note that like my other posted buttons, It looks like a raised mark vs indented into the metal.. so by off your reply in that post, would you say its probably pre 1840?

@Red-Coat

...buttons have a raised backmark and those began to be superseded by indented backmarks from around 1810 and are rarely seen after about 1840.

 

[Trash404]

please keep us posted as to what else information you come up with. Being curious also how much did these cost you ?

Actually this was in a small box labeled "buttons" that also contain about a dozen other buttons in 2x2 plastic holders each with it's own label/description (some of the other sets of buttons I've posted about in this forum & another forum within this site if you're curious).

This 'buttons' box was part of a much larger lot which was a wooden drawer filled with other items that included 1700-1800 uk/gb coins, vintage jewelry including a 'gold filled' watch chain & cufflink, & some large heavy bronze/brass looking memorial medal (which I will be asking about next since it too has little information on what it is online). but all in all the lot cost me about 80, which on the "flip" side of things I can already say I would be able to make my money back on the jewelry & silver/rare coins alone.