✅ SOLVED need help with a cuff button

[DigIron2]

Found this the other day,I have been doing a little research and I can't find anything similar to it.It looks military in nature,or maybe just patriotic?It is the size of a eagle cuff button,has two flags crossed with a cluster of 13 stars up top between them,some lettering at the bottom,I think I see a U and a N? and it has some kind of nipple protruding from the middle between the two flag staffs.I think it might have a tin back,I am gonna have to pick at it a little bit more.thanks!joe

 

[shawninNY]

Was gunna be super pissed if someone posted before me , took me 1/2 hr in Alberts pg 442 patriotic ! Nice 1 joe!!

 

[shawninNY]

 

[DigIron2]

Thanks allot for your help shawn!I am happy you could put this one to rest for me,it was starting to drive me a little crazy!That must be a pretty handy book you have there.Whats the title,Alberts?again,thanks for your help!

 

[shawninNY]

Yes alberts! The patriotic buttons / and tokens were issued during the civil war pro union

 

[DigIron2]

Yes alberts! The patriotic buttons / and tokens were issued during the civil war pro union

That's pretty interesting!So probably has a political connection for Lincolns re-election?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The title of the book is "Record Of American Uniform And Historical Buttons; Bicentennial Edition" by Alphaeus H. Albert.

For anybody who doesn't already know:
The designation TIB (or tib), seen in the Albert button-book (and others), stands for Tinplated Iron Back." I should mention, so-called "tin" canteens and "tin" cans are actually just tinplated iron... not really made of Tin. Keep that in mind when you see the word "tinback" in a button's description. Very-very few buttons were made of Tin, because it is subject to "Tin Pest" -- which is a type of severe corrosion which causes Tin to literally fall apart when the temperature goes below freezing. I've read that the uniforms of Napoleon's (French) soldiers had Tin buttons, which fell apart on the frozen retreat from Moscow, causing thousands to freeze to death, because their uniforms could not be buttoned up.

 

[shawninNY]

That's pretty interesting!So probably has a political connection for Lincolns re-election?

I think it had more to do with the war not being popular, just trying to garner support for the cause!

 

[shawninNY]

TcbG , my mistake on not giving him the title , I do remember watching a documentary about napoleons army , I recall them exhuming soldiers from Mass graves . Thank you for the TIB info!

 

[DigIron2]

I am gonna have to get that book!The books I have are mostly civil war "military" artifact related,I do have one book on back marks,that is helpful for locations,dating and makers,besides that and some history on buttons,It is not much help without a back mark!thank you guys for the info!

 

[shawninNY]

Another excellent resource is ( Uniform Buttons of the United States 1776-1865 by Warren K Tice) this book was completed in 1996 compared to alberts 1976 both have almost every known button , When Alberts and his wife compiled his list he used collections and knowledge of other collectors , and a substantial amount of the revolutionary and 1812 buttons where excavated by hand from old barracks and fort sites ( these were dug before metal detectors!) I bought 2 Alberts and donated 1 to my club someone stole it!

 

[fyrffytr1]

This is the Albert's book and another very good reference is the one by McGuinn and Bazelon. The Tice book is a large format and won't fit on my scanner.