Phoenix Button recovered from the heart of Alta California

[MarrkSandman]

Shocking discovery at the beach. Wild local wind storms set up strange, deep spring erosion on local beaches here in Monterey, capital city of Alta California (est.1804.) After the death of the Henri I king of Haiti, legend has it that a surplus of the Phoenix buttons meant for his troops was somehow acquired by a trader headed for what is now the state of Oregon. The phoenix buttons were traded to native peoples and dispersed from Alaska to San Diego and beyond along the mission trail. Probably made in England between 1810 and 1830. Here's a picture of mine! Regiment No.6, "I rose from my own ashes"

 

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[artzstuff1]

Very cool story !!! thats got to be worth some coinage,,, thanks for sharin the story and find,,,,


arthur

 

[briankb70]

Very cool story !!! thats got to be worth some coinage,,, thanks for sharin the story and find,,,,


arthur

 

[1491]

Sandman,

I saw this one over on the Kinzli forum too - nice job! Important (and wicked early) piece of CA history.

Jim

 

[allen]

welcome to tnet
congrats on that cool find !!

 

[SFHunter]

Congrats! and welcome to the Phoenix Button Club!! I myself have a cuff button, No 4. regiment. I about fell over when I recovered mine.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Congratz Mark. That's only the 3rd one I know of that's been found on beach erosion episodes. The other 2 that I've heard of from the beach, were found near where yours was And as you know, reales and other mission era items have turned up on that stretch, so I guess we shouldn't be too surprised if period-buttons turn up with them, eh?

They've been found @ mission era land sites, but rarely on the beach. As for value, some have sold recently on ebay for lows around $70-ish, to nearly $200 on the high end (with no particular rhyme or reason to shape, #, size, etc...). They hold interest for those whose hobby is indian trade items, since they are so well connected to west-coast indian trade. Lots more can be said about that, but I'll leave it at that

 

[MarrkSandman]

Thanks for the info. I've been a treasure net lurker for awhile, but this my first find that I thought may have some interest here.
Although I'll readily admit to subjecting my local cronies to every last piece of crapola I dig up! HA!