Flat button ID help

Showtime2385

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Nov 19, 2013
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All Treasure Hunting
So I went out to hunt a park today and a guy gets out of his truck and walks up to me and asks if I want to go on a treasure hunt.. So I figure he lost his keys or something naturally. He tells me there's an old foundation near by and tells me of the finds he has made by eye and digging out a wall so I go along. We walk back to a very old small crud stone foundation. So I did some swinging and I came up with this flat button that says "double gilt" and what appears to be "NO.. 2" Any info on this button would be great. Also found an old spoon head.
mdfinds 005.JPGmdfinds 003.JPGmdfinds 006.JPGmdfinds 012.JPG

I also found this button at another sight but don't know a thing about it or figure out what it says, Help me out button experts!
mdfinds 007.JPGmdfinds 008.JPGmdfinds 009.JPGmdfinds 010.JPG
 

Upvote 2
Almost forgot this, Found today with the spoon and button. Almost looks like a splitting wedge?
mdtngfinds 001.JPGmdtngfinds 002.JPGmdtngfinds 003.JPG
 

Brass 1-piece flatbuttons with an indented-lettering backmark date from about 1810 into the early-1840s. The backmarks on your two indicate they were made in Britain. Many flatbuttons were imported into the US until the young American button-making industry became capable of mass-producing them, by the late-1820s. So, your British-made flatbuttons most probably date from about 1810 to the late-1820s.

I should also mention... brass 1-piece flatbuttons with a raised-lettering backmark date a bit earlier, starting around 1790 or perhaps a bit sooner.

The term "Double Gilt" on such buttons means they were double-goldplated. I should also mention, at that time the term "Plated" in a backmark meant silverplate.

The "No.2" in your first button's backmark indicates it was made in Britain, perhaps by Joseph Mann of Birmingham England, because some of his backmarks contain that term. Mann was in business from 1800 to 1843, which is during your button's time-period. I think your button with "No.2" in the backmark dates from around 1810, because some 1810 US Navy 1-piece brass flatbuttons have a backmark saying "J. Mann / Rich Orange / No. 4".

Your second button's backmark says "Best Strong" in Old-English lettering... which when seen in backmarks means the button was made in Britain.
 

Last edited:
Brass 1-piece flatbuttons with an indented-lettering backmark date from about 1810 into the early-1840s. The backmarks on your two indicate they were made in Britain. Many flatbuttons were imported into the US until the young American button-making industry became capable of mass-producing them, by the late-1820s. So, your London-marked flatbutton most probably dates from about 1810 to the late-1820s.

I should also mention... brass 1-piece flatbuttons with a raised-lettering backmark date a bit earlier, starting around 1790 or perhaps a bit sooner.

The term "Double Gilt" on such buttons means they were double-goldplated. I should also mention, at that time the term "Plated" in a backmark meant silverplate.

The "No.2" in your first button's backmark indicates it was made in Britain, perhaps by Joseph Mann of Birmingham England, because some of his backmarks contain that term. Mann was in business from 1800 to 1843, which is during your button's time-period. I think your button with "No.2" in the backmark dates from around 1810, because some 1810 US Navy 1-piece brass flatbuttons have a backmark saying "J. Mann / Rich Orange / No. 4".

Your second button's backmark says "Best Strong" in Old-English lettering... which when seen in backmarks means the button was made in Britain.

Wow Thanks for all the info!
 

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