tombac buttons - how to identify??/

[funkman]

I have some buttons that I have uncovered at a site that has given me coins and artifacts from the 1800's. The oldest coin I have is a large cent date 1811. The question I have is about how to identify if some of the buttons I have are tombac buttons or not. Most are flat with no words stamped on them. One has a shiny silver look to it and the shank was not attached but you can see where it used to be.

ANy help would be appreciated. If pics are needed I can post also.

Thanks

Funkman

 

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[BuckleBoy]

Tombac buttons are shiny and brittle-looking. They are, in fact, brittle. The alloy they're made from (shiny looking, and reads lower than a brass button does on a detector) gives them their name. Here's a photo. Tombacs on the left:



Sometimes it takes a thorough cleaning to see the shiny metal underneath all the crud and corrosion. When I found these 2 on the left, they looked like iron.

Regards,

Buckleboy

 

[shanegalang]

I have some buttons that I have uncovered at a site that has given me coins and artifacts from the 1800's. The oldest coin I have is a large cent date 1811. The question I have is about how to identify if some of the buttons I have are tombac buttons or not. Most are flat with no words stamped on them. One has a shiny silver look to it and the shank was not attached but you can see where it used to be.

ANy help would be appreciated. If pics are needed I can post also.

Thanks

Funkman

yeah, lets see some pix!!