Got an AMAZING Surprise Find While Looking for Arrowheads!!

FoxHound0985

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Relic Hunting
Hello everyone,

I couldn't get ahold of the owner of the new site I've started hunting, so I decided to go down to a nice spot on the Ohio River to look for arrowheads. I hadn't been there in years, but I have found a lot of good artifacts there in the past. I was hoping the farmer would have disked his fields by now, because that is where some of the best points were found. Once I got there, I was discouraged to see that the fields had been untouched for quite some time. I drove a little further down the road and parked on a small ridge above the river. A short walk later, I was on the beach and was surprised to find that the water was the lowest I've ever seen it there. The water was only about 3 inches deep for 30 feet or so into the river, so it was great hunting. I walked for a bit and found several pieces of flint and a few broken arrowheads and scrapers (one just being a portion of the base). I was starting to get tired and dehydrated, so I started heading back to my car. About half way back, a small circular object caught my eye in the water. I bent down and picked it up and was surprised to see that it was a button! When I turned it over and saw the entwined "USA" I almost fell over!! :o I never, in my wildest dreams, would have thought I would ever find one of these rare buttons... especially in the Ohio River... in Southern Indiana... without my metaldetector! I held it tight in my hand all the way back to my car and when I got there I put it in the passenger seat so I could keep an eye on it. On the way home I kept looking over at it just to make sure that it was real and not just a dream, lol. I am still in shock and disbelief over finding this thing. Who would have ever thought a Revolutionary War button would be found in this area? The only thing I can think of is that it belonged to a soldier of George Rogers Clark's brigade. His brother, William, was the "Clark" in the Lewis and Clark expedition. George was a well known figure in this area and even had a fort in his name about ten miles down river from here. It's really neat to think of the history that this button has seen. When it was made, our country was in a war to gain it's independence! Man, I wish this thing could talk!! That's what this hobby is about, saving little pieces of our history for other generations to enjoy! It's going to be hard for me to top this one. I'm going to go back tomorrow and use my metaldetector to maybe find some of his friends :wink: Thanks for looking!

HH!

Fox
 

Upvote 0
congrates on a realy great find cloud 9 time for you im sure :wav:
 

Sorry, i do not know any thing about button but i would be excited about that one from the posts i have read on this sight!!!! Great find and HH Chug
 

I unfortunately can't let loose on this one as the back concerns me. All others I've seen have casting marks and a loop shank. Email Don Troiani to authenticate it. chainshot@aol.com

My fingers are crossed for you!
 

Thanks for the info Iron Patch. I looked at the back and there is a mold line, but it is very faint and I can only see it when the button is held at an angle against a bright light. The line is also visible on either side of the shank and on the edge of the button. If I recall correctly, the molds used to make these buttons were hand made in three pieces, two for the shank and one for the face, and could make four or five buttons at a time. I am going to take it to a local museum tomorrow to have it authenticated. I have taken a few other questionable pieces to them over the years and they seem to do a great job. Fingers crossed!

Fox
 

FoxHound said:
Thanks for the info Iron Patch. I looked at the back and there is a mold line, but it is very faint and I can only see it when the button is held at an angle against a bright light. The line is also visible on either side of the shank and on the edge of the button. If I recall correctly, the molds used to make these buttons were hand made in three pieces, two for the shank and one for the face, and could make four or five buttons at a time. I am going to take it to a local museum tomorrow to have it authenticated. I have taken a few other questionable pieces to them over the years and they seem to do a great job. Fingers crossed!

Fox


You'd be better off to send the pictures to Don, as he is always more than happy to authenticate Rev War items, and is probably the foremost authority on such things. Places like your local museum would go to him.

As I said most I've seen have a loop shank, not a drilled one... and I believe I have seen reproduction buttons that are similar. You need someone like Don who is an expert in the legitimate ones, but is also aware of what repros. exist. If you don't know both pieces of the puzzle, and most museums wouldn't, you can't be sure of the answer. (because a drilled shank like that can be old or new)

PS... Had I not seen the back I wouldn't have thought twice about it. (and water found pewter buttons can have condition that good) I sure hope it's real! :thumbsup:
 

Thanks again Iron Patch. I'll do that right away.

HH

Fox
 

FoxHound said:
Thanks again Iron Patch. I'll do that right away.

HH

Fox


You might have a fast answer. If he is online he'll probably shoot you a quick email right away.
 

Were you anywhere near Indiana 62?


"Charlestown State Park, Highway 62, Charlestown; Weekend events trace the history of Charlestown from settlements of early Native Americans, to the launching point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition just down the river, to the great flood of 1937 and the construction of the Indiana Army Ammunition plant along Indiana 62 during World War II. Reenactors from the Revolutionary War, Civil War and World War II eras are planning to attend the event."

http://www.oldbridgeinn.com/specials.htm
 

Charlestown is about seven miles inland and down river from where I found it. One of my best friends is actually in charge of that event and his wife is the property manager of the park. I never even thought of that possibility. I have been to that a couple of times but don't remember seeing any Rev War guys there. That doesn't mean they weren't there, I just don't remember them, lol. A lot of the reenactors who go there, most of them, are Civil War reenactors. That's a good thought. Thanks again.

Fox
 

I'm with Patch on this one. The shank doesn't fit the Colonial period. :icon_scratch:

Kirk
 

nice arrowheads ;D congrats my friend :thumbsup:
 

The expert emailed me back and, unfortunately, told me that it's a reproduction :'( He didn't, however, give any further :dontknow: Oh well, who am I to argue with an expert, right? Reproduction or not, it was still the most exciting feeling in the world to find it. Thanks for looking guys. Hopefully someday I will find something that would equal the real thing.

HH!

Fox
 

FoxHound said:
The expert emailed me back and, unfortunately, told me that it's a reproduction :'( He didn't, however, give any further :dontknow: Oh well, who am I to argue with an expert, right? Reproduction or not, it was still the most exciting feeling in the world to find it. Thanks for looking guys. Hopefully someday I will find something that would equal the real thing.

HH!

Fox



Oh well :-\ I'd be over the moon with those flint finds :o
 

Pretty neat button, I hope it is real. I REALLY like the scrappers and points. Nice!!

HH, Ringfinder
 

I found two USA pewters last year. These are 100% real. Here are some pics to compare to yours.

VPR

 

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shaun7 said:
FoxHound said:
The expert emailed me back and, unfortunately, told me that it's a reproduction :'( He didn't, however, give any further :dontknow: Oh well, who am I to argue with an expert, right? Reproduction or not, it was still the most exciting feeling in the world to find it. Thanks for looking guys. Hopefully someday I will find something that would equal the real thing.

HH!

Fox



Oh well :-\ I'd be over the moon with those flint finds :o

Yea, the flint finds made my day before I found the button, so I'm still really happy about those. I guess I could take the button and throw it back in the river, and maybe the artifact gods will smile on me with some more flint, lol.

Thanks for the replies everyone!

HH!

Fox
 

FoxHound said:
The expert emailed me back and, unfortunately, told me that it's a reproduction :'( He didn't, however, give any further :dontknow: Oh well, who am I to argue with an expert, right? Reproduction or not, it was still the most exciting feeling in the world to find it. Thanks for looking guys. Hopefully someday I will find something that would equal the real thing.

HH!

Fox


That is a drag for sure. Remember I told you to expect a short answer because to him looking at that button it's basically just picking black or white and there's not much more you can really say about a modern reproduction. I was pretty sure the news would be bad but figured you might as well get the final answer from the person who really counts. It seems about once a year someone posts a beautiful military button that ends up this way. :-\
 

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