Another flood control find

[jodee89]

So after the positive reactions I received from the post of the 3 colonial buttons I posted, I couldn't wait to get back into the flood control area were they were found. I forgot to mention that they were discovered near an old stone structure that I first found during hunting season. Well after a half hour and lots of interesting iron finds I got a nickel hit at 6". I dug it up and started poking around when my pin-pointer started screaming. I saw some silver and my heart started beating faster. After closer examination I realized it was a button or something but still neat. I've been looking around but I've not seen any quite like it. If anybody has any info id greatly appreciate it.

 

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[vpnavy]

A button jodee?

 

[jodee89]

A button jodee?

I'm not positive but it has a nub on the back resembling a brazed on hoop that is broken off just like a couple of other buttons I've found. It is very thin and the back has small circular rings like it was turned down in a lathe or something.

 

[ATpro5]

Its a tombac button. They are silver in color because they had zinc in them. The shanks were usually iron on tombac buttons so it probably rusted off. Great colonial find. Buttons are my favorite !

 

[jodee89]

Its a tombac button. They are silver in color because they had nickel in them. The shanks were usually iron on tombac buttons so it probably rusted off. Great colonial find. Buttons are my favorite !

Thanks for your expertise. I was told that the other 3 buttons were from 1820-1840, do you thing this is about the same age?

 

[ATpro5]

Tombacs were popular in the late 1700s up into the early 1800s . Probably dates around the same as the other 3. Maybe a little bit earlier

 

[jodee89]

Cool...thanks again

 

[Goldiver]

Nice tombac, I have found a few in a 1830's campsite but far fewer than the brass ones.

Steve

 

[Steve in PA]

Jodee, that tombac button is earlier than the other backmarked brass buttons you found. Buttons like the one you just found turn up on sites (in western PA) that date from the mid 1700s until about 1810. By 1810, those buttons were being replaced by die struck brass buttons. I like what I'm seeing from that site, let me know if you need any help

 

[jodee89]

You guys are a wealth of knowledge and I can only hope that I learn enough so as I too can someday answer questions that a newbie like me may have, and for that I thank you.