Need help with OLD ONE PIECE EAGLE BUTTON ID

[Cal_Cobra]

A friend and I have been researching and detecting some old sites on the West Coast. Second trip to this particular site I dug this button:

I cleaned it with some naval jelly and low and behold, look how well it cleaned up, still has some original gold gilt

One piece, about 21mm in diameter, brass, fully intact loop on the back:

Searching the Depot's button library it looks like this may be an 1820 Militia one piece button? It's also similar (albeit not exactly the same) to the 1820 Infantry button.

Can anyone with one of the button books confirm what I dug here?

Wish I had the Alberts or Tice (or whatever great button book you guys use) but we just don't find enough old buttons like this out here to justify the expenditure.

Thanks for looking!
Cal

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[A2coins]

Ive seen a few on here like that amazing piece of history I bet it will be a great find

 

[Yak1366]

Excellent Find!! Congrats!!!

 

[grasshopper]

I'd say 1820's is accurate based solely on what I've seen, but I'm sure someone will chime in with more precise info.

Congrats on the beautiful button! Bet that was a surprise!!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Beautiful!

 

[Whyme]

Wow nice button! Congrats!

 

[coinman123]

Beautiful early Military button, amazing how much gilt is still there. I also would have to agree with the 1820's date. Very cool design too, rare to see one piece eagle buttons posted! I still have yet to find a military button, so I am very jealous with your great find!

 

[Silvermonkey]

Boy...that cleaned up great! Beautiful, historic button.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Is there a backmark?

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Is there a backmark?

No backmark.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

The button has been ID'd. A friend has the Albert's military button book, and it's shown in there as a GI-67, 1798-1802 U.S. Militia button!

View attachment 1657743

I'm beyond stoked, not only the oldest U.S. military button I've ever dug, but dug in California no less.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Congratulations. I also have the Albert's book and had found the GI-67 but wasn't really able to put a date to it. Can you tell me how your friend arrived at that time frame?

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Congratulations. I also have the Albert's book and had found the GI-67 but wasn't really able to put a date to it. Can you tell me how your friend arrived at that time frame?

I don't have the book, so I'll have to ask him as I'm going from the page photo he sent me and info in his message. If you have the book, can you share what else it says? Perhaps the original 1820 estimate was correct? Either way, I'm no splitting hairs between 1798-1820

 

[Steve in PA]

Yes it's in Albert's, listed as a militia button, but Albert's doesn't give dates on the militia buttons. Your friend misinterpreted the heading in Albert's book " Infantry Regiments 1798-1802" as meaning all the buttons that follow are from that period. But Albert was only referring to a group of numbered pewter regimental buttons immediately following the heading. I agree 18teens-1820s, a very cool button, and quite old for Cali

 

[fyrffytr1]

Yes it's in Albert's, listed as a militia button, but Albert's doesn't give dates on the militia buttons. Your friend misinterpreted the heading in Albert's book " Infantry Regiments 1798-1802" as meaning all the buttons that follow are from that period. But Albert was only referring to a group of numbered pewter regimental buttons immediately following the heading. I agree 18teens-1820s, a very cool button, and quite old for Cali

Unless I am wrong, Albert listed the buttons from oldest to newest. GI-67 is next to newest if my reasoning is right. And, the militia button was redesigned in 1820 to include an eagle with US on it. So I would agree that the button is 18teens to 1820. The lack of a backmark is a little unusual but not unheard of.

 

[Steve in PA]

Unless I am wrong, Albert listed the buttons from oldest to newest. GI-67 is next to newest if my reasoning is right. And, the militia button was redesigned in 1820 to include an eagle with US on it. So I would agree that the button is 18teens to 1820. The lack of a backmark is a little unusual but not unheard of.

He definitely lists the US Military issued buttons from oldest to newest for each branch of service. I don't think these militia buttons can be dated to US Military button regulations, so he added them at the end of the GI section.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Unless I am wrong, Albert listed the buttons from oldest to newest. GI-67 is next to newest if my reasoning is right. And, the militia button was redesigned in 1820 to include an eagle with US on it. So I would agree that the button is 18teens to 1820. The lack of a backmark is a little unusual but not unheard of.

Makes sense, so it's a GI-67 18teens-1820 U.S. Militia one piece, 21mm bronze button.

Are these pretty rare or ?

 

[Hawks88]

That’s a real nice old button save and you cleaned it up beautifully. Congrats

 

[Cal_Cobra]

That’s a real nice old button save and you cleaned it up beautifully. Congrats

Thank you, appreciate it

 

[Trezurehunter]

That is a very nice early military button. What a great find (yes, especially so for California) !