Mystery "face" button - SOLVED

ModernMiner · May 29, 2011

Mystery "face" button - ***SOLVED***

O.K. here's a tricky one. This button was in a group of CW buttons and older buttons I bought Saturday at an auction. They were dug at the Aversboro, NC. battleground back in the 70's. When I cleaned this button up I noticed a face on the front and what looks like lettering around the edge. The shank is not like one I've seen before on CW or even late 1700's buttons. It's a flat band type shank made of brass.
Any idea who that may be on the button and what era this could be from? :dontknow:

Thanks for your help, :icon_thumleft:

MM

Bigcypresshunter · May 29, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

I wonder if its one of those coin buttons. (buttons made with the image of a coin)

ivan salis · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

i see lettering around the rim can you make it out?

on first glace it looks like mock "coin like" type button

Bigcypresshunter · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

It may even be made from an authentic coin.

diggummup · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

Looks like Cesear Augustus to me. :dontknow:

steelheadwill · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

diggummup said:
Looks like Cesear Augustus to me.

Possibly, they 'Romanized' a lot of busts. GW

Love the story about 'you pick one, I pick one'
I'm watchin this one MM.
I think you got something nice here :hello2:

creskol · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

It looks like a work clothes button. Some said Washington Dee Cee around the edges.

Silver Searcher · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

:icon_thumleft:

It is I believe a coin button, very popular during the 18th-19th century. Not made from a coin, just reflecting the popularity and fascination of the Roman period.

http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ukdfddata/showcat.php?cat=104&page=8

SS

creskol · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

Here is the type of button I was thinking about. Took me a while to find it, and after looking more closely, I think yours may be something different.

ivan salis · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

GEORGAVS = king george of england -- LAST 4 LETTER GAVS *

ModernMiner · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

creskol said:
Here is the type of button I was thinking about. Took me a while to find it, and after looking more closely, I think yours may be something different.

Yeah, I saw some of those Dee Cee overalls on E-bay after you mentioned it above Creskol. Nice guess, but this button is way old I think.
-Doug-

bigcypresshunter said:
I wonder if its one of those coin buttons. (buttons made with the image of a coin)

Silver Searcher said:
It is I believe a coin button, very popular during the 18th-19th century. Not made from a coin, just reflecting the popularity and fascination of the Roman period.

http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ukdfddata/showcat.php?cat=104&page=8

SS

ivan salis said:
i see lettering around the rim can you make it out?

on first glace it looks like mock "coin like" type button

diggummup said:
Looks like Cesear Augustus to me.

Thanks Guys. Perhaps a coin button (or lookalike) may be the answer. :icon_scratch:

I'll put it under my microscope an see if I can make out any of the letters.
-MM-

creskol · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

ModernMiner said:
creskol said:

Here is the type of button I was thinking about. Took me a while to find it, and after looking more closely, I think yours may be something different.

Yeah, I saw some of those Dee Cee overalls on E-bay after you mentioned it above Creskol. Nice guess, but this button is way old I think.
-Doug-

Click to expand...

Did you see this particular button in your search? I see a lot of the newer plain Dee Cee buttons, but I don't see any of the older buttons with the image. Just curious. Thanks.

ModernMiner · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

creskol said:
ModernMiner said:

creskol said:

Here is the type of button I was thinking about. Took me a while to find it, and after looking more closely, I think yours may be something different.

Yeah, I saw some of those Dee Cee overalls on E-bay after you mentioned it above Creskol. Nice guess, but this button is way old I think.
-Doug-

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Did you see this particular button in your search? I see a lot of the newer plain Dee Cee buttons, but I don't see any of the older buttons with the image. Just curious. Thanks.

No, only the newer ones I saw.
-Doug-

Bigcypresshunter · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

You can read a little about old Spanish coin buttons here. http://www.artifacts.org/patriotic.htm http://www.artifacts.org/patriotic.htm

Napoleon was often depicted. Yours may be British.

Breezie · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

ivan salis said:
i see lettering around the rim can you make it out?

on first glace it looks like mock "coin like" type button

I see letters or stars on the rim too. So is the button iron and the shank brass?

http://cgi.ebay.com/6-Vintage-Brass...606?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56443ea4f6

http://cgi.ebay.com/Matching-Lot-6-...895?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b0186ea7

Breezie

Bigcypresshunter · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

It may be a cufflink.

Bigcypresshunter · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

Modernminer it looks like you use the Sony Mavica for closeups. I use the same camera. :icon_thumright:

Breezie it looks like your second eBay link may be a match. :dontknow:

Modernminers find is an original of the repros on eBay. Now try to figure what it says and google it.

Looks like it starts with IMP maybe Roman. http://dougsmith.ancients.info/abb.html

ModernMiner · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

ivan salis said:
GEORGAVS = king george of england -- LAST 4 LETTER GAVS *

Ivan,
I think you nailed it as King George. I had an ID of King George by SC Keith in my "Today's Finds" post.
I don't see anything on the back that would ID it as a coin, so I'll go with the ID of being a portrait button.
Well done! Here are a few more pictures of my button, and also a few bust shots of King George.
-MM-

ModernMiner · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

Breezie said:
ivan salis said:

i see lettering around the rim can you make it out?

on first glace it looks like mock "coin like" type button

Click to expand...

I see letters or stars on the rim too. So is the button iron and the shank brass?

Breezie

Breezie,
The button and shank are both brass.
Thanks,
Doug

bigcypresshunter said:
Modernminer it looks like you use the Sony Mavica for closeups. I use the same camera.

BCH,
You have a sharp eye. Yes indeed, it is a Sony Mavica. I dinosaur, but it takes good close-ups.

Your guess of a cufflink could be a possibility too. :thumbsup:

Thanks,
Doug

Bigcypresshunter · May 30, 2011

Re: Mystery "face" button - Looks very old?

I see what looks like a star or large dot, at about 12 o'clock, in between the lettering, above the head, can be used as a clue.