Why do buttons always do that?!?!?

WHADIFIND · Jan 7, 2013

The mansion was pretty dry today, but it did give me another really nice button. It's a rather large one, appears to be of a pretty fair age, (early 1800's? :dontknow:

). Thing I can't figure out is WHY is it that EVERY time I uncover a really nicely preserved button it's a plain one!?!

No designs, no backmarks, if it does, then time has usually ravaged!

I took some closeups of where the stem used to be, hopefully it'll help to determine age. I'm afraid I don't know buttons very well.
The penny's just for size comparison. It's not completely flat but there's also not much of convex.

Like I said, Slim Pickens.

Dog tag

This bullet was marked. Was 43 a strange caliber? I don't remember seeing one before. The other two had no markings.

Thanks for peeking.

HH!

grasshopper · Jan 7, 2013

Usually the plain buttons are older than decorated ones. Decorative buttons the same age as yours (late 1700s/early 1800s) are harder to come by. At least in my experience...

HutSiteDigger · Jan 7, 2013

That's mainly colonial artifacts for yah, I was @ a spot in Port Royal,VA a few years ago and dug 17 flat buttons in one day and I can relate too you on that, it would be nice if all buttons were state or eagles or scripts but colonial period just used those flat buttons. Bad thing is out of 17 flat buttons, I didnt even produce a coin :BangHead:

Good luck!!

WHADIFIND · Jan 7, 2013

grasshopper said:
Usually the plain buttons are older than decorated ones. Decorative buttons the same age as yours (late 1700s/early 1800s) are harder to come by. At least in my experience...

I suppose so. Guess I can't expect it to say something like "Made in California" on the back since there wasn't any California back then, huh.

Think that size is typical of the period? Did seem a bit large to me. But, look at the buttons I'm used to using. LOL.

Thanks!

HH!

WHADIFIND · Jan 7, 2013

HutSiteDigger said:
That's mainly colonial artifacts for yah, I was @ a spot in Port Royal,VA a few years ago and dug 17 flat buttons in one day and I can relate too you on that, it would be nice if all buttons were state or eagles or scripts but colonial period just used those flat buttons. Bad thing is out of 17 flat buttons, I didnt even produce a coin Good luck!!

I've found several buttons from around this same period in a fairly small section of this yard. Guess something went on here, huh.

This one is the largest and even though the pics don't really show it very well, it is in very nice shape, considering. Also, it's not quite flat. Slightly convex. Interesting anyway.

You'd think George could have at least scratched his initials onto the back so it could be identified by some poor old detectorist 130 years later or so.

Thanks!

HH!

HutSiteDigger · Jan 7, 2013

Yep the 1 1/4 inch ones (from my personal experience with research,etc) tend to be common from about 1780-1815.. The button you dug sure did clean up well and of course they used flat buttons all the way up til and past the civil war so it can be hard to really ID a good time period but the cleaner (unless you dug them in very rich soil) the button cleans up and looks pretty and not that much of a brownish color too it it could be from 1850+ period. From my experience the ones you dug up that have a brownish color too it even after you clean it are the ones from the 18th century!!! Awesome finds! keep at it! :headbang:

HutSiteDigger · Jan 7, 2013

Yah im thinking this button would be from the 19th century, sure is too pretty too be from the 18th century unless you dug it in very rich soil. At least here in Virginia all the colonial flats we dug tend to have a brownish color too it of course soil is the key to everything, but again sure cleaned up VERY well. and again hard to I.D. flat buttons to a certain century but it is odd this one doesnt have a manufacture name on the back of it, makes it even MORE harder to I.D.

grasshopper · Jan 7, 2013

Maybe it's just me, but I think the bigger plain flat buttons ive found are older than smaller plain ones. They always seem to be more crudely made and dont have backmarks..

s.c.shooter · Jan 7, 2013

I don't think that 43 is the caliber. It was probaly the year of headstamp/manufacture.

WHADIFIND · Jan 7, 2013

s.c.shooter said:
I don't think that 43 is the caliber. It was probaly the year of headstamp/manufacture.

Almost anyone would know more about that than I. LOL

It says P C 43 would that be 1943 then?

Thanks!
HH!

HutSiteDigger · Jan 7, 2013

yah, if i had to take a wild guess :icon_scratch:

i would sayyyy the button is from 1815-1830 from a mom & pop kinda clothing manufacture.. just a guess though, but hey lets stop guessing and GO out and FIND MORE :icon_thumleft:

WHADIFIND · Jan 7, 2013

HutSiteDigger said:
Yah im thinking this button would be from the 19th century,

Well, this actually did come from some VERY rich and deep soil. Very black earth. Most of the buttons came out in pretty good shape.

WHADIFIND · Jan 7, 2013

grasshopper said:
Maybe it's just me, but I think the bigger plain flat buttons ive found are older than smaller plain ones. They always seem to be more crudely made and dont have backmarks..

Makes sense actually. It was pretty crude back in the early 1800's.

HH!

WHADIFIND · Jan 7, 2013

HutSiteDigger said:
yah, if i had to take a wild guess i would sayyyy the button is from 1815-1830 from a mom & pop kinda clothing manufacture.. just a guess though, but hey lets stop guessing and GO out and FIND MORE

Can I wait until tomorrow? Kinda dark out now.

Thanks for your help!

HH!