Face of 1744 colonial pillar button - reale beauty!

GWWJR · Apr 17, 2015

Had a few hours to hunt so hit a local spot we've beaten to death. Just got the detector dialed in, found a few tombac buttons and then out comes this beauty. Just a low 40s on the Deus so I was really surprised to see a nice keeper. I think its the face of a 2 piece tombac button. I usually only find the backs/ shanks and occasionally just the domed faces. Never one like this. I'll take it! Just after I dug this the farmer showed up to spray the fields (no till) before planting corn. Oh well. Will have to hit it again next year.

I found some button backs of the type I think this comes from and one of them fits like a glove. Not from the same spot though. Someone will have to tell me if I'm wrong about what it is.

hbeaton · Apr 17, 2015

Check this out...I believe it has your button/cuff link listed.

Patriotic & Commemorative Buttons

HH!
-Hunter

hogge · Apr 17, 2015

THAT is a BEAUTY! IP should pipe in on this one. Congrats Hogge..........I would like to know value on this one.

Ron (CA) · Apr 17, 2015

WOW-- Cool button!!

G.A.P.metal · Apr 17, 2015

Looks like a very good site to hunt,and that button is outrageous HH.
Gary

GWWJR · Apr 17, 2015

Thanks for the link. I remember seeing that before but didnt save the bookmark. I will now. Doubt there is much value for this but its priceless to me. I cant get over the condition of the tombac material. It'd probably clean up a lot more but I'm scared to try.

Iron Patch · Apr 17, 2015

Can you post the back. There is a different look from a cast flat button compared to the face off an early two piece. When it's just the face, often the back is not completely flat and there is material missing... almost having the look like it was glued and ripped apart. Usually thin too, so I'm thinking it's a cast button and not the face.

Ahab8 · Apr 17, 2015

GWWJR said:
Thanks for the link. I remember seeing that before but didnt save the bookmark. I will now. Doubt there is much value for this but its priceless to me. I cant get over the condition of the tombac material. It'd probably clean up a lot more but I'm scared to try.

Leave that bad boy just like that. It looks great. Those are so cool. I found a half real that was converted into a cufflink in January. Really really cool find. I love stuff like that

GWWJR · Apr 17, 2015

Here it is.

Iron Patch · Apr 17, 2015

GWWJR said:
Here it is.

I think you're right. :thumbsup:

I don't recall ever seeing one made that way. I don't think the date usually reflects when the button was made, but I think yours probably goes back to not too long after 1744. When I see that type of button I think like 1760s... not sure how accurate that is, or how long they were popular.

GWWJR · Apr 17, 2015

Iron Patch said:
I think you're right. I don't recall seeing one made that way.

Cool. Thats what I saw first after it came up. What a surprise when I flipped it over. Happy time.

digging440yrs · Apr 17, 2015

GREAT FINDS !! :thumbsup:

Iron Patch · Apr 17, 2015

GWWJR said:
Cool. Thats what I saw first after it came up. What a surprise when I flipped it over. Happy time.

I think it's even a little more interesting than that because I assume like a cast coin usually a button would be cast the same way, and yours looks a little too funky for that. The Q is more like a sloppy C, and there's an inverted N, and an upside down M.... so to me someone probably took some time to make that mold. And if it is cast from an actual coin, which I can't see, it seems unique enough that you would be able to find and match the variety.... but I don't think I'd spend much time trying to do that.

GWWJR · Apr 17, 2015

I found another one a decade or more ago. It was 1744 and seemed to remember it had a shank. Will try to find it and get a pic.

Steve in PA · Apr 17, 2015

That is a real nice one. I have found a number of the facsimile Spanish coin cufflinks. They all have been one piece. I have also found those concave button backs like you have there. They are found on 1750s French and Indian War sites around here.