CW Navy help

[McCDig]

Hi All,

Dug this Saturday at a Baltimore location known to have a Navy presence during the Civil War. Earlier that same week I dug an 1850 navy button nearby. The eagle button with anchor shows some remaining gilding. It has a diameter of 18mm and bears the backmark "WATERBURY BUTTON CO." Please "weigh in" on this to perhaps offer a positive id. Thanks.
NA-107 from The Treasure Depot Button Project

 

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[Ant]

That is a nice button. Tht eagle is facing to the left, I think that's something significant, waiting to see what the button folks have to say.

 

[Ant]

The anchor is facing left and that's dofferent too, but I can't make out a tangled anchor rope.

 

[jude061]

b6945 is similar, back is different though: Button backmarks, Waterbury Button Co, Waterbury Connecticut.
this seems closer though: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/216895-eagle-button-anchor-cannon-balls.html

 

[Ant]

Close:

 

[duggap]

In trying to tie down the back mark, I am coming up with differing views. McGuinn and Bazelon call it post civil war. But I think Tice's book may be a better source. It says it is late 1860s to 1870s.

 

[baspinall]

Good reference link.

The Treasure Depot Button Project

 

[McCDig]

Yours is the second post CW opinion given. The other considered this may even be a civilian knock-off. Unique features are: Eagle facing left, upper anchor fluke covering wing, the cannon balls (3) are small, "WATERBURY BUTTON CO." backmark.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks for the link. It appears to be closest match to NA-107, though it is of a smaller diameter and the eagle's right talon is on the nearer side of the anchor, not centered as for my button.

 

[fyrffytr1]

There are a few clues that point to this button being a post civil war one. First, the fluke of the anchor is in front of the left wing. On NA-107 it is behind the wing. There were a very few CW period buttons with the fluke in front. Second, the backmark of "Waterbury Button Co." being a depressed one with the circle of dots is shown to be late 1800s according to Tice's book. I cannot find a button with the thin rope border or the device stopping short of the button edge like yours in Tice's or Albert's books. It has good detail and may be military but it could also be a "career" or civilian button.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks to all who offered thoughtful research on this puzzler. Thank you all for the time invested in this one. It is a well-preserved button, taken from a depth of 11 inches in a park that pre-dates the Civil War, was an encampment for Union soldiers, had a military hospital, and generations of public use. It was dug from an area that has produced 19th century coins.