Old button

[Laneely84]

Can anyone give me any information on the age and value of a button? It was dug out of my grandparents back yard in northern wv. It appears to be smooth on the front but the back is marked “warranted rich Orange” . Any pointer on cleaning it or should I leave in this condition? Thanks for all the help

 

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[vpnavy]

1st - I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard Laneely84! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forum: Select Your Area.... and selecting location information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country). You might also consider adding your state (or country) to your displayed profile (SETTINGS -> EDIT PROFILE) - members may have more success helping you (your location may help, etc.)...

2nd - I moved ya from GENERAL DISCUSSION over to WHAT IS IT? for more exposure.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Nice find Lane and welcome to Tnet from Toronto!
This is a mid-19thc coat or shirt button, it was originally gold-plated and is most likely British-made.

From TheCannonballGuy: "You found what button collectors call a brass 1-piece flat-button, a type which was manufactured for civilian usage, not military. The great majority we find here in America date from the late-1700s to about 1840. Your button's backmark saying "Warranted Rich Orange" means it is British-made. "Warranted" is Brit-speak for guaranteed, and "Orange" refers to the color of the gold-plating (gilt) which was applied to it. Brass 1-piece flat-buttons with a raised-lettering backmark date from about 1790 to 1840... and ones which have an indented-lettering backmark (like yours) began to show up a bit later, about 1810, and continued to be made into the 1840s. Brass 1-piece flat-buttons fell out of favor with the public by the end of the 1830s, due to the advent of machinery which could mass-produce inexpensive "ornate" (fancy-design) 2-piece brass buttons."

The value of this piece, is that 50 years from now it will still remind you of your grandparents.
Dave

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Nice find !
Common civilian flat button.
Early to mid 1800s
Not much value to it .
Gary

 

[namxat]

Nice find !
Common civilian flat button.
Early to mid 1800s
Not much value to it .
Gary

I second the above. These gilt buttons were an early English mass export from the London area.


Greats Namxat