Rare North Carolina button, confederate?

crabstang44

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Mar 10, 2016
865
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eastern nc
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46Wheat

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May 23, 2014
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3,357
Upstate NY
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Minelab Etrac / Equinox 800 / 8.5x11 DD and 5x8 DD coil /
Garrett ProPointer / Lesche Digger
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I know nothing about CW buttons but judging by what has been said by some pretty knowledgeable people you have a very special and rare find . Congratulations
 

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relic lover

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Jul 4, 2006
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Western PA
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Wow I have never seen that one before I would definitely not clean it yet. You have plenty of time in the future to clean it later. I regret most of the cleaning I did right away after making a killer find. All I'm saying is cool your jets it's never too late clean it. And by the way congratulations
 

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jorge del norte

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Dec 22, 2005
1,062
117
nc
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Nokta Simplex - Tesoro Conquistador Umax
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Wow...nice find...In from New Bern too!
 

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flatbutton

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Aug 21, 2013
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Eastern N.C.
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Absolutely awesome! I live in New Bern, and I know Confederate stuff is hard to find here. That piece you found is over the top! Congrats
 

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watercolor

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Feb 3, 2007
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Arlington Heights, IL
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I've cleaned a lot of gold guilt buttons using aluminum jelly with similar green corrosion and I am always amazed at how they come out looking. The aluminum jelly makes them look almost non-dug. But given the rarity of this button I would not take any chances on it. I would recommend consulting with a military relic expert like Harry Ridgeway. You can find his information here: The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway

Congrats on such an amazing find! Keep us posted if you find more information on it.

You have an absolutely outstanding find and I wouldn't do anything to it.

The aluminum and/or naval jelly will work wonders in bringing out the golden guilt but it MAY also adversly discolor the brass.
Here is a Chicago City Police button before & after example (treated with naval jelly) that I found in a street tear-up. . . the brass on the reverse really got dark and it was harder to read the backmark.

CCP-before & after.jpg

Again, wonderful recovery!!
 

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SC Keith

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Aug 25, 2010
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You have a very important and rare NC button and if it were mine I would not dare clean it until I consulted with national experts like William Leigh. I have personally regretted some of the times I have cleaned a rare button. Your button is one of the best I have seen in a long time. No need to rush to clean it! Congrats on a truly spectacular button!
Keith
 

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OP
crabstang44

crabstang44

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Mar 10, 2016
865
4,792
eastern nc
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Equinox 800, Makro racer 2
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I think you may have an import NC button and if it were mine I would not dare clean it until I consulted with national experts like William Leigh. I have personally regretted some of the times I have cleaned a rare button. Your button is one of the best I have seen in a long time. No need to rush to clean it! Congrats on a truly spectacular button!
Keith
william helped me identify, its worth many thousands, i will ask him about cleaning it
 

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Iron Patch

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Sep 28, 2007
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Dirtyville
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What a great find! And not sure what the banner people are waiting for.

Just for the record, anyone who offers to buy it will say not to clean it.... so they can.
 

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DirtStalker

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Sep 26, 2014
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Upstate SC
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Deus
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Man I sure hope this button doesn't end up on Craigslist/Charlotte like some Hornets nest (?)button did last year.
 

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Worm-Slicer

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Jan 6, 2013
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SouthwestVirginia
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I personally think it looks great as-is and would definitely not try cleaning that one because of it's super value. Especially if you never have intentions of selling it, but cleaning or not is personal preference. I just prefer mine with their nice ground patina.
 

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Iron Patch

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Sep 28, 2007
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I personally think it looks great as-is and would definitely not try cleaning that one because of it's super value. Especially if you never have intentions of selling it, but cleaning or not is personal preference. I just prefer mine with their nice ground patina.


That's not patina, it's corrosion which is obstructing what appears to be close to 100% gilt. There's a huge difference.
 

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