Need some help dating this button

[Vermont treasure hunter]

I found this button today by an old mill sight near my house. I am trying to date the mill so if I can date this button that would be grate. I wasn?t sure about it because the shank has this build up of metal around it (this is not the best way of saying this but I hope you can get what I mean from the photos) which I hadn?t seen on others like this. No back mark or design visible and it is in very bad condition. Thanks for any help with this!

 

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[villagenut]

Might be a a mark under the build up of grime.

 

[ticndig]

yep, need to clean it up. age can be told by shank and back mark lettering style

 

[Vermont treasure hunter]

yep, need to clean it up. age can be told by shank and back mark lettering style

Ok. Will try to clean it up more on the back.

 

[Vermont treasure hunter]

So I cleaned up the back with my Andres Pencils and, if there was a back mark, it is gone. I do not see anything on the back of this.

 

[Kray Gelder]

Looks like a Tombac button to me. Copper/zinc/arsenic alloy, 1770 to 1810, the approximate time period of manufacture.

 

[Vermont treasure hunter]

Looks like a Tombac button to me. Copper/zinc/arsenic alloy, 1770 to 1810, the approximate time period of manufacture.

Thanks! The zinc would explain the deterioration! When I frost found it I thought to Tombac button but the level of deterioration made me think other wise but now that I have cleaned it a bit more I can see much more of the more classic white/silver-y metal.

 

[smokeythecat]

Kray is correct on the age, and it might be a tad older also.