Civil war button/Metal detector find today! CONFEDERATE U.S.N.? Help Id.

[GOLDENEYE]

Help?? Metal detecor find!! I found this button and cannot find another on the net to identify it?If -u- can help please let me know.I found this today using my whites coinmaster.It was found near Spotsylvania courthouse,Va. at an old house site.Its in great condition for being burried + found 142 years later burried in 5 in. driveway gravel + 2 more inches dirt.It has 13 stars and an anchor.Its a large button about the size of a U.S.quarter.It has down turned wings that are very bold.Please note the eagles head on this one faces left?All the buttons I have seen that are somewhat similar are facing right?This Large button has on the back Superior Quality.I know by the 13 stars + anchor its a civil war,naval or marines? I also have 2 other buttons, Non dug! if you can help with those as well/They are small size about that of a us dime, has an eagle with a shield.Federals maybe?Only one is marked on the back.One has the shank one doesnt.These 2 are great treadle type sewing machine,drawyer finds.Any help with identification is greatly appreciated.Thx

 

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[txkickergirl]

Re: Civil war button/metal detector find today! CONFEDERATE U.S.N.? Help Id.

nice find, with an anchor I would think navy. Was it called navy back then?

 

[diggummup]

Re: Civil war button/metal detector find today! CONFEDERATE U.S.N.? Help Id.

Does the backmark on the 1st. button say "Superior Quality" and what does the backmark on the others say?

 

[PBK]

Re: Civil war button/metal detector find today! CONFEDERATE U.S.N.? Help Id.

The design of the eagle & anchor button appears to be that of a U. S. Marine Corps uniform button.

 

[tymcmurray]

Re: Civil war button/metal detector find today! CONFEDERATE U.S.N.? Help Id.

You found some nice buttons.
All I ever find are civil war flat buttons.

 

[BigNuggets]

Re: Civil war button/metal detector find today! CONFEDERATE U.S.N.? Help Id.

Great Diggins

 

[Montana Jim]

Re: Civil war button/metal detector find today! CONFEDERATE U.S.N.? Help Id.

The design of the eagle & anchor button appears to be that of a U. S. Marine Corps uniform button.

Of course I agree... LOL

I have NOT found one just like it, but, I do believe it's an authentic U.S. Marine Corps button. Having said that, the key is the back mark to it's authenticity.

Now... the back mark, I cannot read it from the picture... does it actually say; "superior button co."? Or could it say: "superior ________ ?" Something else?

Just checking

 

[diggummup]

Re: Civil war button/metal detector find today! CONFEDERATE U.S.N.? Help Id.

The design of the eagle & anchor button appears to be that of a U. S. Marine Corps uniform button.

Of course I agree... LOL

I have NOT found one just like it, but, I do believe it's an authentic U.S. Marine Corps button. Having said that, the key is the back mark to it's authenticity.

Now... the back mark, I cannot read it from the picture... does it actually say; "superior button co."? Or could it say: "superior ________ ?" Something else?

Just checking

It says "Superior Quality" Jim. That backmark is a sort of generic mark that cannot be attributed to one company, many buttons from different companies during the CW (and before) have had that backmark. http://thettablog.blogspot.com/2005/06/superior-quality-for-buttons-lacks.htmlI have seen this button somewhere before I think but I yet to find an example of it at this moment.The closest I could find is this reproduction from Waterbury. Still searching.

 

[Montana Jim]

Re: Civil war button/metal detector find today! CONFEDERATE U.S.N.? Help Id.

It says "Superior Quality" Jim. That backmark is a sort of generic mark that cannot be attributed to one company, many buttons from different companies during the CW (and before) have had that backmark.

That is correct... it's a "quality mark" and not a manufactures' mark - and used by several companies. I could not read that - good work.

 

[WeaponsUSMC]

I believe the quality mark has to do with the amount of guilt that is on the item. I dont remember what all quality marks are, but every button maker used them and there are quit a few of them.

 

[Montana Jim]

I believe the quality mark has to do with the amount of guilt that is on the item. I dont remember what all quality marks are, but every button maker used them and there are quit a few of them.

Generaly it was a term used to promote sales... referencing any gilt or rich color... It's a "quality mark" not a "back mark". And yes, used my several comanies world wide.

Quality Mark's : "A term used for certain words found on the backs of buttons made after 1800. It is believed the purpose of the words was mainly to promote sales, as the differences in quality can seldom be noted. Most of the marks appeared between 1800 and 1850. Examples are "Rich Gold", "Gilt", and "Rich Orange" (Luscomb 1967:163).

Other examples: "Superior", "Superior Quality"... you get the idea...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I have a Confederate Navy button somewhere and it says CSN on the front and the back says its made in England somewhere, if I remember correctly. It also would not have 13 stars.

 

[rockyredbaron]

Outstanding !! WTG


HH to all

 

[Montana Jim]

I have a Confederate Navy button somewhere and it says CSN on the front and the back says its made in England somewhere, if I remember correctly. It also would not have 13 stars.

The Firmin companies made a lot of CSN (confederate) buttons... they are an English company - no doubt many more made confederate buttons as well...

 

[badoscar]

Superior condition could have a winner there.

 

[bcs123]

its not a confederate marine button heres a conf. marine. button i found online

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I know by the 13 stars + anchor its a civil war...

13 stars would mean it is NOT Confederate. Must be U.S.

 

[PBK]

its not a confederate marine button heres a conf. marine. button i found online

Exactly right!

There is only one variety of Confederate Marines button. It bears a stippled Roman "M" on a plain field, as shown in the photo which Bcs13 posted.

The only Confederate buttons bearing anchors are navy buttons, and none resembles the design of a U.S. Marine Corps buttons, as displayed on the button which Goldeneye posted.

 

[gregd573]

I'm not a button professional by a long shot......but hasn't it always been the eagle, globe and anchor for the USMC. Unless it is a earlier version I'm do not think it is USMC as it has no globe (world), just the eagle and anchor.........but I could undoubtedly be wrong it has happened before.........HH all.......gregd573

 

[PBK]

Hasn't it always been the eagle, globe and anchor for the USMC?

Right! For collar, hat &/or shoulder insignia, at least since 1868.

Their buttons, however, continue to use the original Marines insignia, the oldest mililtary insignia in continuous use in the U.S.

For more information, see the following webpage. Scroll about 3/4 of the way down for details about buttons:

http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/corps-stories/geninfo/usmceagle.asp