Best find of the season so far!

[goldencoin]

Hello everybody!

Went to my cabin in Indiana...just a musty cottage on the edge of a small lake. While my mom was waiting for the telephone man, i went to the local park. It's just a baseball Field where they play little league. I found many spills which boosted my clad count. I was also finding washers, which i thought were from a beer tent until....

I got a bad nickel signal and cut a plug. I reached inside the hole and got a found object. As the dirt fell off, i saw a beautiful eagle button and quickly put it in my pouch for further examination. As i washed it, i saw an excellent eagle with beautiful patina and detail with full back and a shank. I dated it to before WWI because it was not a great seal design.

After research, google showed me a previous post were lordmarcoven on here posted the same button and he dated it to the civil war!!! I was so ecstatic as i realized that this was my first civil war relic! And in Indiana!

I'm gonna have to get a special case for this 8) (i hope you can all verify this)

I rounded off the week end with more clad and some junque...

HH
-GC

 

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[twister]

wow, awesome button and plenty of coins

 

[cryptodave]

GC, you are correct in your assesment. It is a CW eagle button, and in great condition! Congrats!

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Congrats GC You are really doing great!

 

[wildrider]

No, It's not a CW style Eagle.

It's post war 1870's I think. I'll check my book.

Burt

 

[goldencoin]

Here is what i'm basing it on...

HH
-GC

 

[romeo-1]

Great looking button...nicely done!

 

[wildrider]

As it says Alberts GI 98.

But the 2 piece is dated (1875-1902)

The back mark I'll have to look up in the backmark book.

 

[BobinSouthVA]

congratulations. very nice button

 

[goldencoin]

The back says "horstmann bros. & co. *phila*

HH
-GC

 

[wildrider]

Well after much research and looking through Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons "Alphaeus Albert's Button book" and

American Military Button Makers and Dealers; Their Backmarks and Dates by McGuinn and Bazelon here is what I found:

The button front is a
GI 98 General Service; 2 piece
Device, the spread eagle with raised lined shield;21 mm, 16mm. (1875-1902)
Many variants-names of manufacturers given.
1) City Button Words/N.Y. 2) Scovill Mf'g Co/Waterbury 3) Steele & Johnson/Mfg: Co
4) Waterbury Button Co 5) Waterbury Manufacturing Co

The backmark is a
Horstmann Bros & Co. *Phila* On many state militia buttons; also (General Staff) GS-
10A1, rmdc, c.1850's

But by looking at the die photos in the book, the above backmark also had "WH" and "& sons" until the 1859-70 backmark die.
Then the dies had "BROTHERS" spelled out until the 1870-1893's. The dies that read anything Horstmann & Sons were:

(1845-1860) WH HORSTMANN & SONS - PHILA-
(1850's) WH HORSTMANN & SONS - PHI-
(1859-1870) HORSTMANN BROTHERS & CO -PHIL-
(1870-93) HORSTMANN BROS & CO -PHILA-
(1870-93) HORSTMANN BROS & CO -PHIL-
(1880-93) HORSTMANN BROS & CO -PHIL-

But between the 1845-1860 die that read "sons" instead of "bros", the die didn't change to Phila until the 1870-93 die. All others in between were: -PHIL- , -NY & PHI- , PHILA & NEW YORK, *N.Y.&PHILAD* , -PHILA- , -PHIL-

So, I don't know what else to say except they may have used surplus button backs on the newer button front. I think that button companies were bought out regularly and another company may have put it on since they had paid for them. But there is no doubt in my mind that the "chicken" eagle came after the CW. The CW eagles were much better looking. The current eagle likeness and predecessors came immediately after your particular eagle button design.


Burt

 

[goldencoin]

the back says exactly "horstmann bros & co. *phil*" If i understand your previos post, this would date it to at least 1893....but in general, it would have to date to the indian wars

HH
-GC

 

[texan connection]

Very Cool, Goldencoin. way to grow

 

[nealb]

Golden,
Cool finds. Congrats on the button.
HH
Neal

 

[bookfisher]

Below is a link to Common Button Back Marks which includes dates for the Horstmann Co. According to the chart HORSTMANN BROS & CO. / PHILA dates the button from 1859 to 1863. So it would seem that you do indeed have a Civil War button!

http://pw1.netcom.com/~jimyce/bm.html

 

[River Rat]

A remarkable find...it's beautiful. Congrats!! High Five, GC!!

RR

 

[Ridley]

That's a beautiful button!

It's in great shape too! I'd be tempted to hunt all around that area again soon!


Congratulations!


Ridley

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Here is what i'm basing it on...

HH
-GC

The wingtips in your found button go down. In the CW example you posted they go up. Small detail, but that's what it's all about.

I don't know from buttons, but I did notice that immediately. Doesn't mean it's not from the CW period, but there are others here who I would listen to.

Still, a good find. ;-)

 

[TreasureTales]

Whether CW or Indian Wars, it's a great button. Definitely need to visit your cabin more often so you can find more stuff in the general area. Congratulations.

 

[Boobydoo]

Great find GC!! Congrats on the beautiful button and all the other goodies.

Smiles!
BDoo