1798 US Navy Button - treat futher or leave it alone?

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Anyone wish to offer their recommendations please for this button? It’s the first type to be used by the United States Navy back in 1798. Should I treat it further or leave it alone? It has an eagle w/ a shield of a fouled anchor surrounded by 13 stars. Its type in Albert’s book is NA 6-B.1 (H & T GILT on the back of the button). I’ve read a lot about aluminum jelly? Will it give extra sheen to the gold gilt? Will it harm the surface of the button where gilt is missing? I found it last week in a field that’s giving up lots of coppers and button but not any silver yet. I’m very hopeful for some silver coins to come sooner or later. I’ve had the button soaking in mineral oil for the past week to loosen the dirt with a light brushing of a soft-bristle tooth brush, as I do with any worthwhile coppers. The button is still soaking in mineral oil, but I’m opposed to brushing any further to avoid loss of the remaining gilt. Where should I take it from here? Thanks in advance for any replies. Sadly, the shank is gone, but it’s still a nice, old button.

 

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[BuckleBoy]

yes, definitely a mistake to use oil and then ask whether to clean it or not, but in this case it should be ok because you don't need much of a reaction to clean it. I don't see any real use for oil in general because I've cleaned many buttons over quite a long time and have managed to do without. Actually... the only time I've used it recently was to experiment soaking pewter for long periods of time. It seems to have helped some, but nothing fantastic, so I keep all oil away from buttons.

ABSOLUTELY true.

I am a big proponent of aluminum jelly, but I too have noticed that it doesn't allow working time to get the crud off the button. Lemon Juice for me next time!

Cheers,


Buck

 

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[Iron Patch]

ABSOLUTELY true.

I am a big proponent of aluminum jelly, but I too have noticed that it doesn't allow working time to get the crud off the button. Lemon Juice for me next time!

Cheers,


Buck

A trick with that, if you're worried about too much exposure on remaining crud spots, just drop a drop or two on the spot you want to target. (The jelly could be useful that way, maybe even more so) One of my better finds which I'm sure you've seen the before and after pics of several times, cleaned 99% in the first 30 minutes but took me about another 10 days isolating the small remaining spots. Usually I wouldn't put such an effort in but when you have the right button it's worth it. Another tip for a stubborn button is to do the lemon soak/cleaning and then leave it alone for a day or two to really dry out. For some reason the lemon seems to attack it a little better when you soak it again.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

A trick with that, if you're worried about too much exposure on remaining crud spots, just drop a drop or two on the spot you want to target. (The jelly could be useful that way, maybe even more so) One of my better finds which I'm sure you've seen the before and after pics of several times, cleaned 99% in the first 30 minutes but took me about another 10 days isolating the small remaining spots. Usually I wouldn't put such an effort in but when you have the right button it's worth it. Another tip for a stubborn button is to do the lemon soak/cleaning and then leave it alone for a day or two to really dry out. For some reason the lemon seems to attack it a little better when you soak it again.

I use a plastic syringe to apply the jelly in tiny amounts exactly where I want it. Hard to do that with lemon juice.

 

[Iron Patch]

I use a plastic syringe to apply the jelly in tiny amounts exactly where I want it. Hard to do that with lemon juice.

Not at all as I've done it for years. I just use the top of a pen and drop it on the button. An eye dropper would also work great, I just never bothered to get one.

 

[Silver Searcher]

I agree the lemon juice, but applied with cotton bud to were you want it, the exposed parts will turn purple if you soak it in lemon juice....cool button

SS

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

yes, definitely a mistake to use oil and then ask whether to clean it or not, but in this case it should be ok because you don't need much of a reaction to clean it. I don't see any real use for oil in general because I've cleaned many buttons over quite a long time and have managed to do without. Actually... the only time I've used it recently was to experiment soaking pewter for long periods of time. It seems to have helped some, but nothing fantastic, so I keep all oil away from buttons.

I'm in agreement that I should not have used oil for the button. I seldom find buttons and far seldom clean buttons, although a new site has been producing lots of buttons. I'm accustomed to relying heavily on mineral oil as the only reliable means of removing dirt from corroded copper coins with the least amount of harm. In regards to the button, what’s done is done. I believe that placing the button in acetone for a few seconds will remove the oil, but as I said, cleaning buttons is new to me. Will the acetone ruin the button or the gilt? I do have some other buttons with gilt from the same site that I can sacrifice for experimenting. Thanks for everyone's input - much appreciated!

 

[Iron Patch]

I'm in agreement that I should not have used oil for the button. I seldom find buttons and far seldom clean buttons, although a new site has been producing lots of buttons. I'm accustomed to relying heavily on mineral oil as the only reliable means of removing dirt from corroded copper coins with the least amount of harm. In regards to the button, what’s done is done. I believe that placing the button in acetone for a few seconds will remove the oil, but as I said, cleaning buttons is new to me. Will the acetone ruin the button or the gilt? I do have some other buttons with gilt from the same site that I can sacrifice for experimenting. Thanks for everyone's input - much appreciated!

I have no experience with acetone, but I don't think you need it. Just use soap and water a few times and that will probably be good enough because even if the lemon reacts at 20% it still should do the job on that button. With corrosion to clean you might have been in a little more trouble, but I'm pretty sure you're still ok with this one. The lemon will also help remove the last trace of the oil.

 

[Brian C.]

Nice button for sure, a friend of mine found one several years back along the lake in a field.