Feeling some "Gilt" about this button

[lenmac65]

It was mild and slightly rainy this morning, so I went for a quick hunt for my first time at a mid-1800's homestead site I had had my eyes on. Things started poorly for me. First off, I saw a rusty lock sitting on a stone and a scattering of old bottles, so I knew the place had been hit before. Secondly, the ground was generating so much noise, that I couldn’t get a clear patch of dirt to ground balance my machine. Thirdly, the area was so overgrown that I had difficulty swinging the detector and keeping track of where I had been. However, I finally settled in and found a few shotgun shell pieces, a slug, and a 30-30 shell casing marked Western 1918 (apparently manufactured that year). Continuing on, I got a nice clean coin signal about six inches down, and thought I might have something good. It was only a 1941 Wheatie, but at least it was a coin. I was just about ready to give up, when I got a faint coin signal about 6-8 inches down. I recovered the item, which was a small, slightly concave, plain button. Although feeling encouraged, I had to go, though at least I knew I had something potentially interesting. Once home, I saw the back of the button had three letters: “ILT,” which you might be able to see at about 11 o’clock in my photo. Doing a little research, I think the back had at one time said “GILT,” which was a mark apparently used from about 1800 to 1850 to indicate the quality. While not much to look at, I was very happy with the button and glad that it had slipped through the cracks of other's prior hunts. Thanks for looking. Happy hunting.

 

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[Professor of Engineering]

Thank you for sharing, congratulations!

 

[creskol]

Did you grab the lock that was left there for you?

 

[A2coins]

Great finds looks like you did good. I need a day like that soon Well done Happy Holidays Tommy

 

[Whyme]

I love finding buttons! Nice finds! Congrats!

 

[coinman123]

Great early button! I have read that raised backmarks, like the type your button appears to have, are typically a bit older than those with carved backmarks. Your button likely dates from 1790 through around 1820 or so. Where you find early buttons like that, you have much greater chances of finding coins or other cool relics. Congrats!

 

[lenmac65]

Did you grab the lock that was left there for you?

Unfortunately, no. In my initial confusion then rush to leave, I forgot it. I plan on revisiting that spot soon and will grab it. It is a sliding barrel bolt. I am thinking of cleaning it up a bit and actually using it on a shed door.

 

[lenmac65]

Great early button! I have read that raised backmarks, like the type your button appears to have, are typically a bit older than those with carved backmarks. Your button likely dates from 1790 through around 1820 or so. Where you find early buttons like that, you have much greater chances of finding coins or other cool relics. Congrats!

Thanks for the information; I was hoping someone would bring up the possibility of late 1700's. I only started detecting this summer, so this is probably my oldest find with the possible exception of a slightly larger, plain flat button I found a couple weeks ago. It was flat, about 20mm in diameter, very thin, and had no markings at all. I posted that one on this site on 12/13/2018. Again, thanks for the feedback. I hope to hit that site again very soon.

 

[ConshyBoy]

Here is one I found awhile ago but haven’t made it back to the site yet View attachment 1662889

 

[Yak1366]

Nice finds, Congrats!!