Rare Washington Political Button

[Palmetto]

On Friday I went out to my river site which has been a great spot for me. This site is what I think must have been a trading post, stagecoach stop or like. Some early coins as well as high quality civilian buttons and not far away from this I have dug a SC cuff and Manuscript I button-regardless of history, a lot of early 1800 through civil war activity was in and around this site.
Since summer I have not been out there and much to my dismay, the main area was still high in growth and not huntable. I had my gear and went towards the woods to see what I could get. Well, about 20 minutes in I got a strong, steady, high reading on the T2. Six inches down was what I first thought was a coin-probably a 2 cent piece. It had the size, was thick and very green. When I got it out of the hole, examined it, I saw it had a broken shank in the back and though that it was just another flat button as the front was plain. I saw the back had a backmark and wiped the dirt away-to my amazement, out pops the word, WASHINGTON and below it, a beautiful federal-style eagle. My first thought was a Jacksonian type button or commemorative type button, which in its own right is a great find. I forwarded a crude picture to my hunting buddy, Greg Toney and described it for him-he thought the same.
Well-after some serious researching and question asking by Greg and myself, it appears that this button is a very rare Washington Political Reverse cuff button circa 1792. Rob Silverstein, a GW button collector describes it as a button worn by either a senator or representative that would have favored the Washington Administration-it was not a button that civilians had access to. His rarity Rating is R-6 which represents 3-5 known examples. He only knows of 3 others in existence, 2 of which have missing shanks.
What is interesting is that this type is not referenced in Albert although it closely resembles the eagle styles of certain GW Inaugural buttons but is most likely a specific political button as described earlier.
Regardless, I am happy to have dug it and look forward to hopefully finding out more research. If any of you know more or different please let me know.

The pictures below are the button with no cleaning other than wiping the dirt away-it is in too good of shape as is to mess with in my opinion.


Thanks for looking.

Russ

 

[stewielouie]

Great looking button congrats!!!!!

 

[SCdigger]

Simply amazing button find! Way to go my friend! Nominated if for Banner!

Greg

 

[Gunrunner61]

A very cool Button...............And a great find in the Up State.......................HH




And I did nominate it for the Banner..................HH

 

[Don in SJ]

I knew I saw that button before, one was posted on TNet and perhaps some more, that I cannot remember, it was at the time inconclusive as to age and purpose, PBK was a great researcher/moderator on this forum for years.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/19164-button-id.html

Either way a great find and in nice shape on the "important" side.

Don

UPDATE: Here is another one, this evidently was in W&E magazine.
http://www.wetreasures.com/cgi-bin/treasure/bestfinds.pl/Show?_id=449f&sort=DEFAULT&search=

 

[NolanTheExplorer]

oh thats cool

 

[fishstick]

WTG Russ!! What a beautiful and STELLAR piece of history.. CONGRATS.. HH

 

[Iron Patch]

I knew I saw that button before, one was posted on TNet and perhaps some more, that I cannot remember, it was at the time inconclusive as to age and purpose, PBK was a great researcher/moderator on this forum for years.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/19164-button-id.html

Either way a great find and in nice shape on the "important" side.

Don

UPDATE: Here is another one, this evidently was in W&E magazine.
Western & Eastern Treasures Magazine Best Finds Database: record 449f=

Too bad there's not an answer for these. My gut tends to agree with the people that say well after 1789.

Here's another.... found it while trying to track down a sale of one I seen. They don't seem super rare, just probably not recognized by most for what they are... whatever that is!

1789, George Washington Inaugural Button-Unlisted : Lot 216

 

[Don in SJ]

Too bad there's not an answer for these. My gut tends to agree with the people that say well after 1789.

Here's another.... found it while trying to track down a sale of one I seen. They don't seem super rare, just probably not recognized by most for what they are... whatever that is!

1789, George Washington Inaugural Button-Unlisted : Lot 216

I have to think it is later than 1800, based on the fact that type of backmark was not even being done in the 1790s by either Britain or USA, more like early 1800s up to 1830 time frame. I did look on Hertiage Auctions and no such sale out of 471 GW type buttons listed ove the years there.
Again, regardless, an uncommon find.

Don

 

[nsdq]

wow i like it

 

[Erik in NJ]

Great button! Interesting debate as well. To me the eagle looks much more modern than the "chicken-style" eagle found on the GW innaugural buttons. I think the style of that eagle (e.g. when did that eagle style first appear) is going to be the key in dating this button. My guess is post 1830s.

 

[wheatfinder13]

That's really neat

 

[Iron Patch]

I have to think it is later than 1800, based on the fact that type of backmark was not even being done in the 1790s by either Britain or USA, more like early 1800s up to 1830 time frame. I did look on Hertiage Auctions and no such sale out of 471 GW type buttons listed ove the years there.
Again, regardless, an uncommon find.

Don

Early American sold one but I can't find it... although I didn't look real hard. If I had one of these and could get a grand it would probably be gone because I suspect there's many more to come. It seems pretty obvious to me it's not only 3-5 known when we can find more online in the matter of a 2 minute search. This sort of reminds me of the eagle holding the anchor backmark... not one you see every day but they turn up. And I have dug two of those myself which tends to point out that they were actually used by the British too because I have never found an early 1800s American military button in the hundreds I have dug.

 

[Palmetto]

Early American sold one but I can't find it... although I didn't look real hard. If I had one of these and could get a grand it would probably be gone because I suspect there's many more to come. It seems pretty obvious to me it's not only 3-5 known when we can find more online in the matter of a 2 minute search. This sort of reminds me of the eagle holding the anchor backmark... not one you see every day but they turn up. And I have dug two of those myself which tends to point out that they were actually used by the British too because I have never found an early 1800s American military button in the hundreds I have dug.

Thanks for all the input and research. It definitely appears the rarity factor is not what it was thought but the difference of opinions particularly on dates and even on purpose is diverse. I was told that one similiar, although larger was offered at Heritage Auctions not too long ago and that it was from the Cobb collection (I think) although I couldnt find it.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Very nice find.

 

[Iron Patch]

Thanks for all the input and research. It definitely appears the rarity factor is not what it was thought but the difference of opinions particularly on dates and even on purpose is diverse. I was told that one similiar, although larger was offered at Heritage Auctions not too long ago and that it was from the Cobb collection (I think) although I couldnt find it.

Cobb's collection is online and pretty sure there wasn't one of those. I wouldn't trust any auction house because they can be pretty loose with their info., as it is all about the money. If you want to know a sale price write Dana at Early American. But even if you do, I'm not sure that figure will mean much because back when that example sold, the same person went hog wild and bought a bunch of GW or GW related buttons and definitely overpaid for some. I sold Dana a button several years ago, and for the years since I got the better end of the deal because he still had it, and I doubt anyone was even coming close to offering what he paid me. But when that buyer went on his streak that button was included and at a several hundred dollar profit. If it wasn't for him, I think it would still be for sale with very little interest for the price point it was at. I think the backmark one was in the range of $1,000, maybe even a bit better. Rob Silverstein very well could have been the guy buying them and I do know the button I owned is on his site.

 

[SC Keith]

I think you have made a great find there Russ! Congrats on that killer button...sounds like you have a great site!

 

[dsinsc]

Nice one Russ, I don't want to speculate on age or rarity but I do know of one that's not part of the discussion above that my buddy found near Charlestown SC. His had a missing shank as well. Regardless, it's not one you see a lot of and I'm sure many people, including me, would welcome one into their GW collection..... Dave

 

[jamesbibb]

Love it a great find for sure

 

[Iron Patch]

Regardless, it's not one you see a lot of and I'm sure many people, including me, would welcome one into their GW collection

I guess I was absent the day the detecting god was giving those collections away.