Hunted an old militia site today. Big copper UPDATED.NEED SOME HELP.

[CrazySlasher]

Hunted an old militia site today. Big copper UPDATED.NEED SOME HELP.

My hunting partner and I braved the heat today and hit a field that used to be a training spot for a local militia in the early 1700's. We were both hoping to pull some old coins out of there. Last visit I got a Jersey copper and a 1753 1/2 reale. It wasn't until much later after getting home that I realized I did find an oldie. I had found a couple junk metal discs close to where I found it and I just threw it in my pocket. Any ideas on the buttons? I believe they're pewter.

Edit: I cleaned up the copper a bit and can make out some lettering. It looks like ANCI (it may be an I) I can't make out the rest yet. Pictures below.

 

[ColonialDude]

Re: Hunted an old militia site today. Big copper UPDATED.NEED SOME HELP.

At first I did not like the look of those buttons either...but I am not convinced they are repro's...although I admit seeing the 21 on the back does make me a little more skeptical now. I have a button almost identical to the first with the big bulky shank and the same look to the material on one of my Rev War sites. When I found it I didn't know what to think...as I myself thought mine looked like a repro...but I know without a shadow of a doubt there would be no reproduction button at this site, and no reenactments.

I wish I had a photo of mine handy.

On the bright side, the button doesn't say "123" on the front!

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Hunted an old militia site today. Big copper UPDATED.NEED SOME HELP.

At first I did not like the look of those buttons either...but I am not convinced they are repro's...although I admit seeing the 21 on the back does make me a little more skeptical now. I have a button almost identical to the first with the big bulky shank and the same look to the material on one of my Rev War sites. When I found it I didn't know what to think...as I myself thought mine looked like a repro...but I know without a shadow of a doubt there would be no reproduction button at this site, and no reenactments.

I wish I had a photo of mine handy.

On the bright side, the button doesn't say "123" on the front!

It wasn't just the shank, but the sharpness of edges & the more tombac look to the metal of the piece that worried me, if your saying you have buttons of the same quality & colouration (bearing in mind the colour of the musket ball from the same site), I will somewhat keep an open mind. But surely the 21 needs some explaining (from this site)?

 

[CrazySlasher]

Re: Hunted an old militia site today. Big copper UPDATED.NEED SOME HELP.

At first I did not like the look of those buttons either...but I am not convinced they are repro's...although I admit seeing the 21 on the back does make me a little more skeptical now. I have a button almost identical to the first with the big bulky shank and the same look to the material on one of my Rev War sites. When I found it I didn't know what to think...as I myself thought mine looked like a repro...but I know without a shadow of a doubt there would be no reproduction button at this site, and no reenactments.

I wish I had a photo of mine handy.

On the bright side, the button doesn't say "123" on the front!

It wasn't just the shank, but the sharpness of edges & the more tombac look to the metal of the piece that worried me, if your saying you have buttons of the same quality & colouration (bearing in mind the colour of the musket ball from the same site), I will somewhat keep an open mind. But surely the 21 needs some explaining (from this site)?

What do you mean by the color of the musket ball?

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Hunted an old militia site today. Big copper UPDATED.NEED SOME HELP.

At first I did not like the look of those buttons either...but I am not convinced they are repro's...although I admit seeing the 21 on the back does make me a little more skeptical now. I have a button almost identical to the first with the big bulky shank and the same look to the material on one of my Rev War sites. When I found it I didn't know what to think...as I myself thought mine looked like a repro...but I know without a shadow of a doubt there would be no reproduction button at this site, and no reenactments.

I wish I had a photo of mine handy.

On the bright side, the button doesn't say "123" on the front!

It wasn't just the shank, but the sharpness of edges & the more tombac look to the metal of the piece that worried me, if your saying you have buttons of the same quality & colouration (bearing in mind the colour of the musket ball from the same site), I will somewhat keep an open mind. But surely the 21 needs some explaining (from this site)?

What do you mean by the color of the musket ball?

Its oxidized, like those pewter/lead-alloy buttons should have done.

 

[CrazySlasher]

Re: Hunted an old militia site today. Big copper UPDATED.NEED SOME HELP.

At first I did not like the look of those buttons either...but I am not convinced they are repro's...although I admit seeing the 21 on the back does make me a little more skeptical now. I have a button almost identical to the first with the big bulky shank and the same look to the material on one of my Rev War sites. When I found it I didn't know what to think...as I myself thought mine looked like a repro...but I know without a shadow of a doubt there would be no reproduction button at this site, and no reenactments.

I wish I had a photo of mine handy.

On the bright side, the button doesn't say "123" on the front!

It wasn't just the shank, but the sharpness of edges & the more tombac look to the metal of the piece that worried me, if your saying you have buttons of the same quality & colouration (bearing in mind the colour of the musket ball from the same site), I will somewhat keep an open mind. But surely the 21 needs some explaining (from this site)?

What do you mean by the color of the musket ball?

Its oxidized, like those pewter/lead-alloy buttons should have done.

Okay, thanks.

Btw, I do not care if they're colonial or not. It's not that big of a disappointment considering the coins I've pulled out of there. They're just a bonus. I just didn't think they were modern. And by modern I mean made in the last 50 years or so.

 

[ColonialDude]

Re: Hunted an old militia site today. Big copper UPDATED.NEED SOME HELP.

It wasn't just the shank, but the sharpness of edges & the more tombac look to the metal of the piece that worried me, if your saying you have buttons of the same quality & colouration (bearing in mind the colour of the musket ball from the same site), I will somewhat keep an open mind. But surely the 21 needs some explaining (from this site)?

I can't see how sharp the edges are personally, but the tombac look I am ok with. That's exactly how mine looks, and I have found many beat up pewter buttons and heavily patinated relics at the site. I can't speak for the buttons shown here as I did not find them...but I do know buttons of that appearance do exist. That being said, I can't say I mine has a "21" on the back. That number is what throws me more than anything as well.