Military Button ID

[KSdiver]

I found eight of these buttons in the same general area at an old pond I've been detecting. Someone must have lost their coat! The buttons are very corroded on the back side and only two have the thread loop. All were 8 inches or more deep.

I found a few on the internet that resemble the ones I found, but have been unable to get a good date range. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

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[PBK]

It's a U.S. Marine Corps uniform button. Hard to estimate the date, as the same basic design has been around since before the Civil War. Based on its appearance, and without seeing the backmark variety, I'd guess that it's post-1900.

 

[KSdiver]

Thanks PBK. Definitely Marine Corp? I was thinking Navy.
Among the eight I found a smaller cuff, or lapel button.
Lettering on the back is legible - it says "Waterbury Button".

 

[PBK]

Thanks PBK. Definitely Marine Corp? I was thinking Navy.

Definitely.

Lettering on the back is legible - it says "Waterbury Button".

They've been making 'em since the 1800's. Still are:
http://www.waterburybutton.com/user...e+corps&keyword_submit.x=0&keyword_submit.y=0

 

[KSdiver]

Thanks very much for the info PBK.
I found 8 total (7 large coat size, and 1 small cuff size) in the same area.
The pond, which is drying up and more like a swamp now, most likely covered the area I found them.
Someone must have dropped their coat overboard and it sunk to the bottom.
Interesting indeed - I will most likely go back to the area and excavate - maybe they had change in their pockets!

 

[Montana Jim]

Welcome to Treasure Net KSdiver... cool finds!

PBK... awesome as always.

Here is another site showing older Marine buttons... strangley, the one that looks the most like yours is a rubber button!

(see the 11th button).
http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/cayenna/index.html

I also wanted to add that you "might" be able to judge other relics there against the condition and depth of the buttons to kind of zero in on probeble dates lost... keeping in mind they might have been 100 years old when lost in the first place. (Made in 1870 and lost in 1970). PBK is right - only the "exact" back mark words can zero you close... It's all a guessing game unless you KNOW something was lost during a certain time frame.

Reguardless... you probebly found a set of buttons of the same jacket... and THAT is pretty darned cool!

 

[KSdiver]

Thanks Montana Jim. Yes, I plan on going back, dig deeper and scan some more.
Hopefully I'll come up with a dated coin or two. I have a hunch it was in the area of an old swimming hole that has since dried up, but who knows for sure.
Anyway, here is a picture of the whole lot...

 

[Gribnitz]

LOL, yup. Someone lost thier coat. There should be another cuff button out there someplace

 

[KSdiver]

Yep - went back today and found another small (cuff) button.
Now I have the whole set.

 

[rabajohn]

You may want to research a little and see if there are any missing Marines from the area.