🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Two Civil War Buttons?

HeatherM · May 18, 2026

Found both of these at a home site dating to late 1700's. Home is not far from a Civil War battle site, but it was the last thing on my mind. Found the first one, tossed it my bag as "oh a button" and didn't see the eagle until I got home. Was pretty excited as it would be the first civil war button I've ever found. The other one I found a couple weeks later at the same site and knew from the domed shape it had to be another one. All other buttons have been flat.
I assumed the first one was an Infantry button as it seems to have the I on the chest but now that I'm really studying buttons, the eagle on my button has the arrows in HIS right talon (left looking at the button) while all the buttons I see online have them in HIS left talon (right side)?? Only found one example with arrows on HIS right (NY Staff Officer Button but the crest was different). I don't see that there is any writing on the back of the button.
The second button I found this week is harder to make out. The arrows seem to be on HIS left side (right side of button) which seems to be most common but I cannot make out what is on his chest. Seems to be a diagonal line of some sort? The back of this one has writing but I'm having a hard time making it out because I cannot find my loupe!
My eyes are crossing trying to look at the details and pictures online. Can anyone help??

PenguinDetectsCA · May 18, 2026

Cant help with id, but just wanted to say - nice finds!

Digger54 · May 19, 2026

I don't think your 2nd button is any type shield button as it is very high domed. Problem is that the detail is lost on the oxidation crust. Sometimes you can get more detail by wetting the button and holding it at an angle to the light. If it were my button I would gently clean it more to remove some of the crust that is obscuring the detail. It is not like the value will be ruined since without any detail the only value it provides is the memory of the hunt.

HeatherM · May 19, 2026

Digger54 said:
I don't think your 2nd button is any type shield button as it is very high domed. Problem is that the detail is lost on the oxidation crust. Sometimes you can get more detail by wetting the button and holding it at an angle to the light. If it were my button I would gently clean it more to remove some of the crust that is obscuring the detail. It is not like the value will be ruined since without any detail the only value it provides is the memory of the hunt.

I did try wetting it in different lights and magnifying glass, but I'll try again when I find my loupe..

fyrffytr1 · May 20, 2026

The first button is listed in Albert's button book as GI87 Infantry 2-piece A. The spread eagle with three arrows in the right talon. Blank back. 20mm size. Pre 1854 date
The second button looks like it may be a general service one dating post 1854.

HeatherM · May 27, 2026

fyrffytr1 said:
The first button is listed in Albert's button book as GI87 Infantry 2-piece A. The spread eagle with three arrows in the right talon. Blank back. 20mm size. Pre 1854 date
The second button looks like it may be a general service one dating post 1854.

Thank you for the reply! I have not logged on in about a week so missed it. Funny, I just ordered that book on Ebay last night but got email saying it was actually out of stocked and was refunded. I plan to order it again.
The second button I got cleaned up a bit better and the backmark says "Scovills" (dot) "Waterbury" (dot). It seems this might mean manufactured late 1820s-1840s?.

Digger54 · May 27, 2026

The more I look at it the more I see what looks like the design of a diplomat button on the 2nd one. But then again I'm blind in one eye and can't see out the other.

HeatherM · May 27, 2026

Digger54 said:
The more I look at it the more I see what looks like the design of a diplomat button on the 2nd one. But then again I'm blind in one eye and can't see out the other.

Can you post a picture of one? I'm still trying to clean off the front a bit better.

Digger54 · May 28, 2026

HeatherM said:
Can you post a picture of one? I'm still trying to clean off the front a bit better.

I looked in Alberts but could not find any OD buttons that were two piece with that design. What catches my eyes is not only the spread of the arrows but the Eagle's neck leaning to the right with the head looking to the left. as well as wide spread wings arching up. Could even be an Artillery but at it's present condition very hard to tell.

HeatherM · May 28, 2026

Digger54 said:
I looked in Alberts but could not find any OD buttons that were two piece with that design. What catches my eyes is not only the spread of the arrows but the Eagle's neck leaning to the right with the head looking to the left. as well as wide spread wings arching up. Could even be an Artillery but at it's present condition very hard to tell.

I"ll see if I can clean it up a bit better and post more pictures. Thank you for your help!

Bart@Big Boys Hobbies · May 28, 2026

MAN! Some great finds!

HeatherM · May 28, 2026

I'm starting to think I might have a pre-Civil War Dragoon button similar to this one?

fyrffytr1 · May 29, 2026

I doubted myself on the second button ID. Now that I can see the backmark I would date it between 1830 and 1845. A better book for dating buttons, to me, is "Dating Buttons" by Warren K. Tice. That is where I got this information. Albert's book is good, but it is old. I have a copy that I have worn the spline out of. It was originally released in 1976. My copy was printed in 1997.

Gare · May 30, 2026

HeatherM said:
I'm starting to think I might have a pre-Civil War Dragoon button similar to this one?

Heather can i make a suggestion? If what you found is a dragoon button "WOW" It would be revolutionary war type. Before you do any DAMAGE to it. Have it professionally cleaned . These pictures were taken from Alberts Button book. I could find nothing in His wifw's Book LillianSmith Albert's book

HeatherM · May 30, 2026

fyrffytr1 said:
I doubted myself on the second button ID. Now that I can see the backmark I would date it between 1830 and 1845. A better book for dating buttons, to me, is "Dating Buttons" by Warren K. Tice. That is where I got this information. Albert's book is good, but it is old. I have a copy that I have worn the spline out of. It was originally released in 1976. My copy was printed in 1997.

Guess I'll be buying that book too. :laughing7:

HeatherM · May 30, 2026

Gare said:
Heather can i make a suggestion? If what you found is a dragoon button "WOW" It would be revolutionary war type. Before you do any DAMAGE to it. Have it professionally cleaned . These pictures were taken from Alberts Button book. I could find nothing in His wifw's Book LillianSmith Albert's book

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I've only rubbed it with the end of a chop stick, haha. I only figured it was that because it looks to have *something* on it's chest and I kept thinking an O but there is no O option so D was the next similar letter. Had no idea what Dragoon even was. Not positive that is what it is, but does anyone else see what I mean about the chest area? My eyes are crossing looking through the magnifying glass. Either way, psyched to have found these two buttons and headed back there tomorrow...