HOLY COW! REV. WAR HESSIAN BUTTON! IN ARK OF ALL PLACES!

[dirtlooter]

Was hunting with the new HF coil, was digging a lot of very deep small stuff, several shotgun stamps and parts of pull tabs. Also found a small token, several very small buttons etc. I found something that I wasn't sure what it was, pretty deep close to some very large pines. I put it in my good coin box and went about my business. I was a little down, hunted hard and only found one coin and it was a memorial. After I got home, finally got around to checking my finds and pulled out the one thing that I kind of thought was a button of sorts. It was thick in the back and was what I guess would be called a two piece button. The edge had been reeded but was worn smooth. I could see a bird of sorts with three legs and words in "latin" as best as I could tell. My wife got really excited and took it away to both look at it and to look up the words. I was working on the token when I heard her gasp and give me a wild look. She said that not only did she find out what the words said, but that it was a button worn by Hessian soldiers in the Revolutionary War. The Words in English said " GOD IS OUR HOPE." The Latin words written were ES DEVS SPES NOSTRA . The back side looked like the other portion had possible rusted off, not sure. My first thought when I wiped the mud off of it at the hole was maybe something Aztec the way the bird looked. I didn't see the three legs at first. Was not expecting to find anything like that around here. This could be my oldest find of any sort, still can't believe what I found. Oh yeah, had to explain to her the roles that the Hessians played.

 

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[smokeythecat]

Definitely a Germanic states button. The iron backs like that were not used in the 18th century, with that said, it is most likely from a mid 19th century immigrant or a volunteer for the Confederate army. A lot of British and other folks came over and fought for the Confederacy. It's a neat looking button for sure.

 

[dirtlooter]

Definitely a Germanic states button. The iron backs like that were not used in the 18th century, with that said, it is most likely from a mid 19th century immigrant or a volunteer for the Confederate army. A lot of British and other folks came over and fought for the Confederacy. It's a neat looking button for sure.

I am not arguing with you at all and you are probably right. I thought that the back might have possibly rusted off but what I am seeing is not rust but just the unfinished backside of the top half of the button. it was all the same color of the top side pus the dirt. at any rate, it is still a very cool find for me

 

[CASPER-2]

I had a coat as a kid from sears that had buttons like that they had steel backs

 

[vpnavy]

Cool find DirtLooter. Thanks for sharing...

 

[CASPER-2]

this is from an old post with pic of exact button to yours
modern "blazer buttons of this type are often found"
here are pics of some from older posts - most found in newer parks or school yards
and I found a bunch in the 70s at schools and parks myself - like I said - think sears sold items for boys with those type of buttons
many had other coat of arms too that look military like.
here is another post made years ago to someone elses request on this type of button
"For the record: It's a modern (20th century) blazer / fashion button made for use on sport coats, jackets, sweaters, etc. The bird, usually depicted with three legs (or a tail that looks like a third leg), is often described as a Teutonic eagle. The motto Spes Nostra Es Deus is Latin for, "God is our hope." Blazer buttons frequently feature antique-looking designs or crests, and Latin or pseudo-Latin mottoes.
This has often been misidentified as a Revolutionary War Hessian military button."

 

[CRUSADER]

I am not arguing with you at all and you are probably right. I thought that the back might have possibly rusted off but what I am seeing is not rust but just the unfinished backside of the top half of the button. it was all the same color of the top side pus the dirt. at any rate, it is still a very cool find for me

Which makes it two-piece & post 18th C.

 

[dirtlooter]

thanks all for the info, well, it was exciting for a little bit. it is what it is and this would explain why it was found here. still a cool find

 

[against the wind]

Cool find,, enjoyed reading your post and the responses.
I found a Hessian button in Riverside Park in NYC. It made sense because Admiral Howe, (General Howe's brother) was chasing George Washington, who escaped up the West side and eventually, got to White Plains. The button had a double headed eagle and looked pewter. I was so disappointed when I found out it was a modern day copy.
Congrats on your find and your short lived celebration.

 

[peruna]

As stated above, LOTS of older buttons were re-purposed in the 19th century, both civilian and military...buttons were of higher value than you think. It was common for CW uniform buttons to be cobbled together from many sources, especially Confederate and "field sourced" (repairs to uniforms in camp). Both Federal and Confederate used what they could find. Up until and through the early part of the Industrial Age, machined buttons were a treasure. Now, not so much. You hit the lick getting that button.

Regardless, an exceptional recovery...NICELY done!

 

[dirtlooter]

As stated above, LOTS of older buttons were re-purposed in the 19th century, both civilian and military...buttons were of higher value than you think. It was common for CW uniform buttons to be cobbled together from many sources, especially Confederate and "field sourced" (repairs to uniforms in camp). Both Federal and Confederate used what they could find. Up until and through the early part of the Industrial Age, machined buttons were a treasure. Now, not so much. You hit the lick getting that button.

Regardless, an exceptional recovery...NICELY done!

thank you very much, it has age to it irregardless, yes the soil can age anything. I also found not terribly far from here a button from the 1880's that had been a conductor's vest button. from the rapid transit system of chicago. so there are old things here. in one way a heart breaker and yet in another still an awesome find, at least for me.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice find!

You are killing it with that HF coil!