What kind of button?

[jgoetz4]

Happy New Year everyone. My neighbor found this button? while digging in his garden last year. It's a little over an inch round, and looks like a soldier is on the front, and the back is missing the shank. He found it about 6'' deep. We are in Hanover, PA, and the area was part of a large farm at one time. The Battle of Hanover was about 2 blocks east of where the button was found, if that may shed any light. Thanks in advance for any help.
Jim...

 

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[coinman123]

It looks to be a colonial era livery button, might or might not have had gilt at some point, most likely dates from the end of the 1700's (probably 1780's or 1790's) and was for civilian use, not military. Livery buttons are known for diverse raised designs, most common designs include nature, ancient battle scenes, mythical scenes, and hunting scenes. Very nice button, I hope to find a livery button at some point.


Coinman123,

 

[Patriot Relics]

Coinman is spot on with the ID, good looking button.

 

[Iron Patch]

Probably a hunter as that was a much more common of a design from that period, which I think is probably somewhere from maybe 1820 or 30 with the applied looking raised detail type face... about the same era where flat buttons started to fade out. This could be sort of the precursor to the two piece sportsmens buttons as they also used various designs like hunters, but of course were made a different way. All just a guess based on how it's made, but definitely not a livery button, I can say that for certain.

PS: Sometimes more modern buttons can fool a person when they are flat, and have a nice green color like this one, so it's too bad there's nothing else to go by.... but you should be able to find others that are similar if you look hard enough.

 

[jgoetz4]

Thank you very much for all your help. It is greatly appreciated.

 

[DigIron2]

nice find!

 

[jgoetz4]

Thanks DigIron 2