great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

bronco

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Mar 2, 2008
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great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

My son and I found our first button with our Whites detector today. An old field site I believe. Numerous shotgun shells found 3-4 inches deep. Any ideas on the date of this button. I can make out the Great Seal emblem and burst on the front and the reverse side reads "BORO MAS"

Fun day. Charleaton SC area
 

Montana Jim

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Sep 18, 2006
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Re: great seal military button reverse side "boro mas"

I believe the back mark was: D. Evans & Co. Attleboro Mass 1848 - 1945

So well within the Great Seal button time frame (1902 - present)
 

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bronco

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Mar 2, 2008
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Re: great seal military button reverse side "boro mas"

Thanks for the info Jim. I need to get my digital camera skills up to speed so I can post pictures. I think I can make out the remnants of old red and blue paint on the stars and bars of the shield. Do you know if old buttons were typically painted?

Thanks again,
Happy hunting
 

Montana Jim

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Sep 18, 2006
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Re: great seal military button reverse side "boro mas"

First off... Welcome to TreasureNet... :) I neglected that the first time I posted.

I am 99 percent positive that no uniform military buttons were ever painted colors. I'd love to see a picture of it when you can get the chance... no stress though. I'm thinking you have a civilian button... not a military great seal button.

Hard to tell with no pictures ... :)

Buttons are awesome to find!
 

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bronco

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Mar 2, 2008
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Re: great seal military button reverse side "boro mas"

Here 'tis any idea's
 

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bronco

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Re: great seal military button reverse side "boro mas"

More pics
 

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Montana Jim

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Re: great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

It is certainly a U.S. Army Great Seal button. I cannot read the back except for the "BORO".
 

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bronco

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Mar 2, 2008
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Re: great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

Yeah, doesn't that look like paint to you? Maybe a civilian replica or something
 

mamabear

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Feb 21, 2008
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Re: great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

it's not the patina from weathering?
 

Montana Jim

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Sep 18, 2006
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Re: great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

mamabear said:
it's not the patina from weathering?

Yea, looks like a petina... pics are not good enough to tell. I don't think it's painted.
 

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bronco

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Mar 2, 2008
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Re: great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

Some of the shot shells I'm finding are REM-UMC (from 1911-1934) according to an online resource. Same area near the same depth. I'm thinking must be off somebodies old army, turned hunting jacket? Or would that style be on a dress uniform?
 

Montana Jim

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Re: great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

bronco said:
Some of the shot shells I'm finding are REM-UMC (from 1911-1934) according to an online resource. Same area near the same depth. I'm thinking must be off somebodies old army, turned hunting jacket? Or would that style be on a dress uniform?

The buttons in that style have been around since 1902, and are still the style used today. An exact back mark would give you an "era" when it was made.

Prior to that they were the "Eagle" buttons like in my avatar. The Great Seal buttons were most likely on dress uniforms and not fatiques... and, who knows where the buttons got sewed or used after service life?
 

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bronco

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Mar 2, 2008
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Re: great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

Thanks Again for all the info MJ. I learned a lot. I'll let that be the last word on that button.

I'll try to find another button for you to mull over soon!

Regards
 

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bronco

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Mar 2, 2008
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Re: great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

"Camp Marion, Summerville, SC

• Possibly named after Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox”.
• In early November, 1898, a brigade of the first division of the Second Corps was camped at Summerville, S.C. There are returns for this camp for November, 1898 to February, 1899. The December 31, 1898 Army and Navy Journal indicates state volunteers were camped here. "

Found this out. I wonder if this button could be related. Found in this general area. Any Ideas?
 

Montana Jim

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Sep 18, 2006
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Re: great seal button / "boro mas" With Pics

bronco said:
"Camp Marion, Summerville, SC

• Possibly named after Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox”.
• In early November, 1898, a brigade of the first division of the Second Corps was camped at Summerville, S.C. There are returns for this camp for November, 1898 to February, 1899. The December 31, 1898 Army and Navy Journal indicates state volunteers were camped here. "

Found this out. I wonder if this button could be related. Found in this general area. Any Ideas?

Not from that army... the button cannot date before 1902.
 

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