Arkansas Civil War or Militia Button found?

[Bagman13]

Hello Everyone....

My fiance's uncle found this Arkansas Civil War or Militia button on his property today while walking through a group of trees he had bulldozed. There was Civil War activity on/near the property. He lives in Northwest Arkansas, within 30 miles of Pea Ridge. This is the first button that he has found. Would anyone w/ a little more knowledge be able to offer any confirmation as to type or info? We pulled images of Arkansas Civil War buttons off the net, and it looks like it could be a militia button dating from right after the war? We have heard that the Arkansas buttons are rare? As always, I would be appreciatiave of any help to identify

 

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[jrsherman]

CW Period Arkansas buttons are indeed very rare. I can't read the backmark, which is probably the most crucial evidence to solve the puzzle.

You can bet, though, that if this is a period, and not post-war button, that it is in the several thousand dollar range. The condition is stunning! If I were you I'd be asking to hunt and bringing a detector for your fiance's Uncle as well. He lives right up by where I detect, lots of Civil War history through there.

Tell him congrats on an amazing find!

 

[Dano Sverige]

Be better putting in the "what is it" forum..let the guys there judge.

 

[creskol]

That is a neat button! Not familiar at all with that backmark, though. Can you read it?

It also has two or three letters on the front at the top .. Can you make them out?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Bagman13 wrote:
> We pulled images of Arkansas Civil War buttons off the net, and it looks like it could be a militia button dating from right after the war?

I take no pleasure in having to tell you that your guess about it is correct. It is definitely an 1870s-or-later button. Specifically, it is an Arkansas State Seal button, worn by that state's Militia during the post-civil-war era. It is listed (and shown in a photo) in the Albert button-book as button AK-4.

On the only civil war era version (Albert button# AK-1), the Goddess of Liberty stands atop the shield. On Bagman13's button, she stands beside the shield.

As noted, it is definitely a postwar-era button. If you can decipher the backmark, it will give us a more-exact time of manufacture. (The only backmark for AK-4 listed in the Albert book is "Goodwin's Pat[ent] July 27, 1875".)

 

[{Sentinel}]

Although its a post-war button, its still a terrific Indian Wars era button and still worth some money. Great find

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Some additional info for Bagman13:
I've now managed to decipher enough of the backmark's lettering without you needing to clean it any further. Based on the parts of the lettering I can see, the backmark appears to be "M.C. Lilley & Co. / Columbus O." That means it cannot date prior to 1876. (See the McGuinn-&-Bazelon book for info on M.C. Lilley & Co.)

 

[Bagman13]

That is a neat button! Not familiar at all with that backmark, though. Can you read it?

It also has two or three letters on the front at the top .. Can you make them out?

I'm probably wrong, but I think that one of the words is COLUMBUS.....Ohio maybe? I have heard that Confederate buttons were sometimes made in the Northern States?

 

[Bagman13]

Some additional info for Bagman13:
I've now managed to decipher enough of the backmark's lettering without you needing to clean it any further. Based on the parts of the lettering I can see, the backmark appears to be "M.C. Lilley & Co. / Columbus O." That means it cannot date prior to 1876. (See the McGuinn-&-Bazelon book for info on M.C. Lilley & Co.)

Thank you so much for the info. Not that he would ever sell it, but would you have any idea of a value for something like this? I'm an arrowhead hunter.....I'm ashamed to say that I know very little about Arkansas War Period History?

 

[High Plains Digger]

I think I am reading "Made in China" on the back. Can't dig tomorrow, have to go see the optometrist.