First flat button Help ID

[BomberJohn]

Well I was able to get out this morning for an hour and a half or so. Spent most of the time at the site of a former old paper mill that was there at least in the 1880's. Gone now and the space is used by a car sales lot. After sifting trough rubble and tons of trash I was discouraged and was leaving. Right next to my car I found this flat button.

It measures 1.1" in diameter and about 0.39" thick. Has a loop soldered on. Below the loop looks like an "L" or a "7". Might just be an anomaly in the solder. Anyway, here are some pics. Would love to know the vintage if possible.

Thanks!
BomberJohn

 

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[Don in SJ]

Looks like it might be a Tombac button, a tad older than you think. (possibly 1770s into the early 1800s)

Compare and see what you think, under the crud might be a pretty button on the good side.

http://www.chippewanaturecenter.com/Oxbow/tombac buttons.htm

Don

ADDED: A Tombac should clean up with either peroxide and q-tips, warm water and scrubbing with toothbrush or q-tips, there should be a nice smooth pewter like finish on it when clean.

 

[ivan salis]

1770 to 1820ish -- roughly a 50 year window of "heavy" popular use ---- say rev war to war of 1812 time frame