Patriot Relics
Silver Member
Hey guys,
Hard to believe, but the War of 1812 era button steak remains alive after 4 straight weekends digging early military pewters. Tides were on my side as I set out on the yak to revisit some productive battery sites that saw use from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War. My first target had my heart pumping for sure, large split case pewter with cast shank...sadly not marking on the front and likely dates from the early to mid 1700s. Curiously I've dug 2 identical buttons from the same shoreline, all about 8 months apart.
Here's the button fresh out of the clay and the 2 others dug from the same site.
From the same stretch of coastline I dug an additional early pewter with intact bird cage shank and a .69 round ball.
Rotating sites I headed off to a coastal battery that has produced a pair of Confederate Calvary buttons and a handful of 1812 pewters. While it has been hit hard, I always seem to find a nice keeper. Didn't think much of my first target, bent copper and random wire. Good thing I keep everything I dig- Civil War friction fuse to fire a cannon!
A bit farther up the coast I got a faint 12-18 on the CTX which typically signifies pewter. Carefully cutting the plug from the mud, out pops a large War of 1812 script I with 6 point star. I could tell I wasn't the most stable so I wrapped in the wet paper towels and placed it in a ziploc until I could clean and wax seal it.
I've dug the normal star and a numbered 13th regiment, but this one is significantly larger...and not quite a match to Albert's 36B- of which there is only 1 die variant known for both the coat and cuff. Quite a rare one to dig I suspect.
The next button is still a mystery- 2 piece, copper alloy, and depicts 5 arrows with a laurel on the left. It's the same size as the cavalry cuffs but slightly different construction. Anyone seen this variant??
Among the other buttons was an interesting copper with a square hole and a partial. Also dug a percussion cap, harmonica reed, and lead pistol bullets.
After the tides ran me out, I switched machines and broke out the XP Deus to hit a productive colonial site. Managed to wiggle out a few flat buttons, massive iron buckle, and heavy triangular lead weight.
Big mystery is this cast bronze/copper alloy...thing? Has the ornate looks of a colonial buckle, but not the shape. A small section appears to have broken off from one side, perhaps from a hook.
All in all a fantastic weekend swinging both machines, and getting out on the water. As always thanks for looking and for the ID assist on the button and colonial whatzit.
Hard to believe, but the War of 1812 era button steak remains alive after 4 straight weekends digging early military pewters. Tides were on my side as I set out on the yak to revisit some productive battery sites that saw use from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War. My first target had my heart pumping for sure, large split case pewter with cast shank...sadly not marking on the front and likely dates from the early to mid 1700s. Curiously I've dug 2 identical buttons from the same shoreline, all about 8 months apart.
Here's the button fresh out of the clay and the 2 others dug from the same site.
From the same stretch of coastline I dug an additional early pewter with intact bird cage shank and a .69 round ball.
Rotating sites I headed off to a coastal battery that has produced a pair of Confederate Calvary buttons and a handful of 1812 pewters. While it has been hit hard, I always seem to find a nice keeper. Didn't think much of my first target, bent copper and random wire. Good thing I keep everything I dig- Civil War friction fuse to fire a cannon!
A bit farther up the coast I got a faint 12-18 on the CTX which typically signifies pewter. Carefully cutting the plug from the mud, out pops a large War of 1812 script I with 6 point star. I could tell I wasn't the most stable so I wrapped in the wet paper towels and placed it in a ziploc until I could clean and wax seal it.
I've dug the normal star and a numbered 13th regiment, but this one is significantly larger...and not quite a match to Albert's 36B- of which there is only 1 die variant known for both the coat and cuff. Quite a rare one to dig I suspect.
The next button is still a mystery- 2 piece, copper alloy, and depicts 5 arrows with a laurel on the left. It's the same size as the cavalry cuffs but slightly different construction. Anyone seen this variant??
Among the other buttons was an interesting copper with a square hole and a partial. Also dug a percussion cap, harmonica reed, and lead pistol bullets.
After the tides ran me out, I switched machines and broke out the XP Deus to hit a productive colonial site. Managed to wiggle out a few flat buttons, massive iron buckle, and heavy triangular lead weight.
Big mystery is this cast bronze/copper alloy...thing? Has the ornate looks of a colonial buckle, but not the shape. A small section appears to have broken off from one side, perhaps from a hook.
All in all a fantastic weekend swinging both machines, and getting out on the water. As always thanks for looking and for the ID assist on the button and colonial whatzit.
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