Who made the George Washington Inagural Buttons and how much did they cost?

[metaldetector101]

Who made the George Washington Inagural Buttons? I found one, and I thought to myself who made them? I know the mint couldn't of made them because the Philadelphia mint was made in 1793 and the button is from 1789. Heres the pi of the button. Its aslo on the banner.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: Who made the George Washington Inagural Buttons?

That is a really great question!
Washington inaugural buttons were made by New York and Connecticut colonial button makers and sold to American citizens eager to commemorate George Washington's first inauguration.

I Had always thought they were given away to, and not purchased by the Citizens. That brings up a whole new question. How much did they cost?

 

[Whydah]

Re: Who made the George Washington Inagural Buttons?

Her's another good one ! George Washington wasn't the first president of the U.S. But he was the first one elected into office. I think that there were quite a few more before him....

 

[metaldetector101]

Re: Who made the George Washington Inagural Buttons?

Her's another good one ! George Washington wasn't the first president of the U.S. But he was the first one elected into office. I think that there were quite a few more before him....

that is true, John Hanson was the first president under the articles of confederation

 

[metaldetector101]

Re: Who made the George Washington Inagural Buttons?

That is a really great question!
Washington inaugural buttons were made by New York and Connecticut colonial button makers and sold to American citizens eager to commemorate George Washington's first inauguration.

I Had always thought they were given away to, and not purchased by the Citizens. That brings up a whole new question. How much did they cost?

yeah I wonder how much they cost back then

 

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

I was told that a group of 4 buttons(as they were not sold individually) cost the buyer 6 months worth of wages.not sure if this is true and how much 6 months of wages consisted of either?
so,it's safe to assume that most well to do citizens were the people that adorned these buttons,not your average working farmer or peasant.
that opens up a whole new topic for me as well...we find all these large cents at colonial sites.what did one large cent buy anyways in say 1800? a loaf of bread? a canister of fresh cow milk?

 

[Erik in NJ]

I have seen similar estimates posted here on the forum, but no proof of that (e.g. six months wages for a peasant or wealthy individual)....I find it a bit hard to believe that someone would spend six months wages to buy some buttons. Looking forward to more info on this, with references.

Your second question is interesting and something I think of often especially when watching westerns...of course the relative value changed over the decade (try googling time value of money)...but my general rule of thumb is that mid century, I feel money was worth about 100x face value to put it in 2010 dollars. You should have been able to get a pretty good meal for 20 cents. A stagecoach carryig 10,000 dollars was like 1 million dollars in today's money. Sometimes they make errors in these Westerns as I don't think enough atention was paid to this. On Gunsmoke once I remember Miss Kitty tipping a young boy a quarter for carrying some parcels for her .... she was trying to be generous, but that was like tipping the kid $25 . So I think losing your typical large cent was probably like losing a dollar today. People often say LC were used as washers, buttons, etc because after all they were only worth a cent, but this is wrong because a cent in 1850 had a lot more buying power than a cent today. A one dollar washer is not cheap.....it may have just been handy to use one when needed.

Good post!

I was told that a group of 4 buttons(as they were not sold individually) cost the buyer 6 months worth of wages.not sure if this is true and how much 6 months of wages consisted of either?
so,it's safe to assume that most well to do citizens were the people that adorned these buttons,not your average working farmer or peasant.
that opens up a whole new topic for me as well...we find all these large cents at colonial sites.what did one large cent buy anyways in say 1800? a loaf of bread? a canister of fresh cow milk?

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

I was under the impression that these were given out as gifts to dignitaries and members of congress.

 

[KRAZYHORSES]

I was told that a group of 4 buttons(as they were not sold individually) cost the buyer 6 months worth of wages.not sure if this is true and how much 6 months of wages consisted of either?
so,it's safe to assume that most well to do citizens were the people that adorned these buttons,not your average working farmer or peasant.
that opens up a whole new topic for me as well...we find all these large cents at colonial sites.what did one large cent buy anyways in say 1800? a loaf of bread? a canister of fresh cow milk?

here are some links hope they help http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...sg=AFQjCNHDi-4RKJEjgeIolyV34v4ztgP5JA&cad=rja and http://www.history.org/foundation/journal/Summer02/cooper.cfm

 

[kuger]

I have seen similar estimates posted here on the forum, but no proof of that (e.g. six months wages for a peasant or wealthy individual)....I find it a bit hard to believe that someone would spend six months wages to buy some buttons. Looking forward to more info on this, with references.

Your second question is interesting and something I think of often especially when watching westerns...of course the relative value changed over the decade (try googling time value of money)...but my general rule of thumb is that mid century, I feel money was worth about 100x face value to put it in 2010 dollars. You should have been able to get a pretty good meal for 20 cents. A stagecoach carryig 10,000 dollars was like 1 million dollars in today's money. Sometimes they make errors in these Westerns as I don't think enough atention was paid to this. On Gunsmoke once I remember Miss Kitty tipping a young boy a quarter for carrying some parcels for her .... she was trying to be generous, but that was like tipping the kid $25 . So I think losing your typical large cent was probably like losing a dollar today. People often say LC were used as washers, buttons, etc because after all they were only worth a cent, but this is wrong because a cent in 1850 had a lot more buying power than a cent today. A one dollar washer is not cheap.....it may have just been handy to use one when needed.

Good post!

I was told that a group of 4 buttons(as they were not sold individually) cost the buyer 6 months worth of wages.not sure if this is true and how much 6 months of wages consisted of either?
so,it's safe to assume that most well to do citizens were the people that adorned these buttons,not your average working farmer or peasant.
that opens up a whole new topic for me as well...we find all these large cents at colonial sites.what did one large cent buy anyways in say 1800? a loaf of bread? a canister of fresh cow milk?

Actually 25 cents or two bits in 1870(which is the period Gunsmoke was based on)was basically equivalent to $4.00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-cent_piece_(United_States_coin)

 

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

I was under the impression that these were given out as gifts to dignitaries and members of congress.

i'm sure they were but average citizens were able to puchase them as well i heard.anyone who could afford them and wanted to show their support

 

[coinshooter]

They certainly seem common enough that quite a few are up for auction and
many folks on here have found one or evn two of them.
Guess they are just in the right place.

 

[VWandSTUDEBAKER]

Althought its not been updated since 2005, this is an interesting page with links to more info on the buttons.

http://kirkmitchell.tripod.com/CobbGW/

 

[CC Hunter]

Interesting topic that brings about many thought provoking ideas.

Translating valuations on currency and buying power across the centuries, is an often pondered subject. Following is a link that delves into the various equations, exploring the many factors, and providing an opportunity to calculate data from 1774 to present:
http://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/compare/

CC Hunter

 

[metaldetector101]

Interesting topic that brings about many thought provoking ideas.

Translating valuations on currency and buying power across the centuries, is an often pondered subject. Following is a link that delves into the various equations, exploring the many factors, and providing an opportunity to calculate data from 1774 to present:
http://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/compare/

CC Hunter

thats cool but that doesn't answer the question

 

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

Interesting topic that brings about many thought provoking ideas.

Translating valuations on currency and buying power across the centuries, is an often pondered subject. Following is a link that delves into the various equations, exploring the many factors, and providing an opportunity to calculate data from 1774 to present:
http://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/compare/

CC Hunter

thats cool but that doesn't answer the question

math wasn't my best subject in any event i still think these buttons are very undervalued to this day