Found Two Years ago, Discovered what it may be today (Rev War Button?)

[xmarks73]

About two years ago I was detecting in a town that had ripped up their sidewalks and was putting in new. Anybody that has ever done this knows it is a very trying procedure. There is way to much junk that causes way to many false signals. I pulled this button out and it was in real rough shape. It had so much crud caked on it and I really could not tell what it was. The crud was almost cemented to the button so water baths done nothing for it. I could faintly make out a number 2, but that was about it. Everyone on the detecting sites said it had to be a homemade button. Between the bad quality pics and the shape of the button, nobody was able to even make out one of the numbers on it, let alone id it as anything. I could see the 2 and disagreed that it had to be more than just a homemade button but admitted i really did not have any knowledge when it came to id- ing buttons. I put the button in a drawer and came across this link at the bottom that caused me to retrieve it after two years. Over time the sediment had broke down and with one more water bath, here is the image of what I believe is a Revolutionary War Continental Amry Button. Or at the very least from that time Period. (Hoping! )Please correct me if I am wrong. It just looks so similar to the make of the one listed on this site link. Hopefully military or not, I am one step closer to finding out if this has any historical significance. Thanks all!

Here is a link for. Rev. War 14th Cont. Army Button for sale. What do you all think?

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/3566826

 

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[Iron Patch]

It does look like an early pewter button judging by the back and edge loss, but the bold 22 is not really consistent with Continental Army buttons, or any other pewter buttons I have seen from around the same time. I don't think you're any closer to an ID having found that 14th link. Sometimes we find things that we never find an answer for, and hope that isn't the case here. Good luck.

 

[xmarks73]

Thanks Patch. Yeah, I hope some information comes to surface. It would be a pity to rescue something this old and not have any known history for it. Any suggestions as to where I could take it to have it evaluated/researched? Just a thought and a grasp of straws, but did the Militia have any uniforms and buttons or were they strictly come as you are? As you can see, I am not very knowledgable on the subject.
Thanks again,

 

[Iron Patch]

By the way, the condition has absolutely nothing to do with whether it's a homemade button... that's exactly how a rough dug pewter should look. The only difference from what I've dug is that your button is grey, not having oxidized white, and that has to do with the ground conditions. If this was not found in a plowed field it does strike me a little odd the button can be that color which generally indicates ground that's kind to relics, but that is sort of contradicted by the amount of edge loss. I think at some time or another that button was mozed around quite a bit.

 

[Iron Patch]

Thanks Patch. Yeah, I hope some information comes to surface. It would be a pity to rescue something this old and not have any known history for it. Any suggestions as to where I could take it to have it evaluated/researched? Just a thought and a grasp of straws, but did the Militia have any uniforms and buttons or were they strictly come as you are? As you can see, I am not very knowledgable on the subject.
Thanks again,

The problem is how many countries back at that time made pewter buttons and for various reasons. It's one of those things that there's so little to go on it basically comes down to either you know, or you don't.... and there will be a whole lot more don'ts on that one... but it only takes one who does. So just because I'm clueless means very little, but not sure where you could go.

 

[Erik in NJ]

I guess better pictures would help. They are still very unclear. Looks like your camera focused on the dime and not the button. Can you scan the button with a scanner? It's a cool find. Try posting it on the "What Is It?" forum as well. BTW, I can't seem to open the link you posted. Nice find and good luck with the ID!

 

[xmarks73]

added photos.

It rurally doesn't photograph well. I put light and an HDR filter to help enhance the image. hope this helps