USA Revolutionary War Button

xlt nh · Sep 12, 2009

Hi All! Now that the busy summer is over I'm able to get back out again here and there and try to catch up for lost time...

I went back to the site I obtained in the Spring that produced my 1747 1/2 Reale and 1796 Liberty Cap Cent in hopes of finding more great Colonial treasures....and boy did I hit the jackpot this time!!

The grass in the field is pretty tall right now, so I asked the land owner if I could detect the small piece of mowed property that sits directly across from the 1762 farmhouse...and he graciously obliged. Instantly I began digging Colonial artifacts..flat buttons, suspender buckles, and the center of a Colonial shoe buckle were just some of the items laying in wait.

As I approached the end of the property, the land owner came out to see what I had dug. He was impressed and congratulated me on all my finds, but then told me that the area I was about to scan was the site of his grandparents 50th wedding anniversary party a few years earlier, so I may only find newer coins and garbage left over from the party goers. I thanked him for his time and went back to work as he walked away.

About 10 minutes after his departure, I received a +24 hit at 2.5". Definitely a nickel from the party....or so I thought. As I dug the plug and flipped it over, I was surprised to see a greyish flat button with a perfect shank fall back into the hole. And even more surprised when I flipped the button over and saw the letters 'USA' staring me in the face from under the 230+ yr. old soil that clinged to it!!! I said 'no way...NO WAY'!!

She's in great shape for being in the ground so long...and anyone who has dug pewter items knows that this is a metal that flakes and wears on the edges very easily in the ground.

I have read Albert's book of Military buttons many times...and have graced the first few pages of the book many a time yearning for to one day dig such an important piece of Our Nations History. What a great day this was, and what a great machine my XLT is.

This is definitely one of my best finds of all time.

Thanks for looking and HH,
~Hank 8)

xlt nh · Sep 13, 2009

Thanks for all the well wishes!!! I am still on cloud 9...and I hope to hopefully find even more goodies from this site!

THE BEST PART...I get to share my passion for history and my relics with all of you who feel the same as I do. :icon_thumleft:

I've never made the banner on this site...that would be just as proud a moment for me, as it has been for all who are fortunate to make it.

Again, thanks.

HH, Hank 8)

HCW · Sep 13, 2009

Find of a lifetime. Banner for sure. It's too bad they don't come out of the ground in nicer shape.

crazyjarhead · Sep 13, 2009

That's a great piece of Ameicana :thumbsup:

The_Rake · Sep 13, 2009

XLT, Great find. Welcome to the club. It looks like your button makes #4 found. Good job. Hopefully you will find some more.
Bill (The Rake)
PS....Thanks for the heads up NJ THer. :icon_thumright:

timekiller · Sep 13, 2009

Maybe they are coming up with a this week banner

I can't believe all the stuff I'm seeing this week.Amazing!!! say the least.
Timekiller!

WeaponsUSMC · Sep 13, 2009

Very bannerworthy, I only hope to find one as nice.

Iron Patch · Sep 13, 2009

You got all the letters, and the button for the most part is round... so yes, be happy! I think the banner is allergic to pewter so don't worry about it. :wink:

Your post will have me getting my diggin bud from yesterday to check out what he dug a little closer. It was a small pewter button with a shank just like the one you posted, a bad sign here with most of the early military having had iron shanks, but heck you never know. I have a another friend who is nowhere near where any action took place and he dug a USA mixed in with his Loyalist & British finds. It was quite a surprise.