Rare North Carolina button, confederate?

[crabstang44]

Has been mostly identified, but don't know who used it. If anybody has any new info please let me know thanks, was found in new Bern nc

 

[foreverRich]

Goes to show that you never know what you might find. I's great to have a source of people familiar with relics to find the information. Congratulations on what might be a once in a lifetime find !!

 

[46Wheat]

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

 

[relic lover]

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

 

[crabstang44]

yes i think i will leave it be for now

 

[jorge del norte]

Wow...nice find...In from New Bern too!

 

[flatbutton]

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

 

[watercolor]

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.



Again, wonderful recovery!!

 

[watercolor]

I apologize, I don't know how that whiskey token got in there.

 

[Burnt Chimney]

Heck of a Button ! Congrats

 

[SC Keith]

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

 

[smokeythecat]

Very very nice. Can you read the inscription?

 

[crabstang44]

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

 

[crabstang44]

Very very nice. Can you read the inscription?

cook 8 clifford st london

 

[Iron Patch]

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.

 

[johnnyblaze]

Cool button dig man never seen one..

~Blaze

 

[DirtStalker]

Man I sure hope this button doesn't end up on Craigslist/Charlotte like some Hornets nest (?)button did last year.

 

[crabstang44]

Man I sure hope this button doesn't end up on Craigslist/Charlotte like some Hornets nest (?)button did last year.

dont have to worry about that

 

[sorahc]

Thanks for posting the photo of the back, crabstang44.

 

[Worm-Slicer]

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.

 

[Iron Patch]

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.