My First One Piece Cast Button with Square Drilled Shank

Erik in NJ · Apr 1, 2013

I also found this with my buddy NJLargeCent about a week ago. This is my first button of this type. Hoping the experts here can give me a date range. It's a heavy little thing at 5.8 grams and 20.5 mm in diameter. Notice the unever cast lip. It had a square shank that has a hole drilled in it. Appears to have a plain front. Cool button for sure. Thanks for any info.

Erik in NJ · Apr 2, 2013

NJLargeCent said:
Another great find, Erik! The late-1700's date suggestions sound about right for the site. Glad to be there with you to see it freshly unearthed. Shall we find more?

You bet brother!

I think we should hit that site hard--it gave up some good stuff in the short time that we hit it. There's a lot more there and more at the other site. I'm hoping to get my large coil for the CTX-3030 from lovely Lara at Detector Depot in the next day or so. You're more than welcome to use one of my Explorers or the GTI-2500 if you'd like. Got 3 more IHs and a Buffalo nickel at the house I told you about near me on Sat in a couple of hours digging....still more land to pound there too whenever you're ready, LMK.

HutSiteDigger · Apr 2, 2013

If it's got a decoration on the flat button there known as "Tombac Buttons" like in the photo. All the flat buttons I seen on all the pages appear too be mid to late 18th century (they were also used in the early 19th century). Flat buttons are very common here in Virginia any old house site you hunt will produce flat buttons. Here is some flats we dug in Essex,Virginia the other day I posted on here http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/345678-pile-flat-civilian-buttons.html The picture below is a example of a 18th century Tombac button. :occasion14:

Erik in NJ · Apr 2, 2013

HutSiteDigger said:
If it's got a decoration on the flat button there known as "Tombac Buttons" like in the photo. All the flat buttons I seen on all the pages appear too be mid to late 18th century (they were also used in the early 19th century). Flat buttons are very common here in Virginia any old house site you hunt will produce flat buttons. Here is some flats we dug in Essex,Virginia the other day I posted on here http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/345678-pile-flat-civilian-buttons.html The picture below is a example of a 18th century Tombac button.

That's a beauty! Thanks for the clarification on "tombac"--it has always been vague to me.

granthansen · Apr 2, 2013

HutSiteDigger said:
If it's got a decoration on the flat button there known as "Tombac Buttons" like in the photo. All the flat buttons I seen on all the pages appear too be mid to late 18th century (they were also used in the early 19th century). Flat buttons are very common here in Virginia any old house site you hunt will produce flat buttons. Here is some flats we dug in Essex,Virginia the other day I posted on here http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/345678-pile-flat-civilian-buttons.html The picture below is a example of a 18th century Tombac button.

Nice clarification. Thanks. What would you say if there's no decoration?