Dandy Buttons? Musket Balls... Spoons... Massachusetts

[btjbtj]

Hi everyone. I mentioned yesterday I would post some photos of the buttons we've found so far on the 1683 property, so here goes. Several have subtle remainders of gold gilt. There is one button I'm very curious about--it has what looks like wheat on the sides, and some writing on it. I'm wondering if it is a military uniform button--kind of poor condition. Any thoughts? Also, we've found voluminous musket balls of all shapes and sizes. Are there any musket ball fans out there? Would love to learn more about any of these items. And we also took a shot of our spoon collection. The whole spoon on the left is a Civil War mess kit spoon. Thanks for viewing! ~Lisa & John

 

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[trapperart]

Congrats on some nice finds

 

[dirtdigginfool]

BTJ2...that site is coughing up ALL kinds of great stuff! Keep on digging, we'll keep looking! Ddf

 

[Patriot Relics]

That's an early site for sure and with targets like that your certainly the first to dig it. Large dandy buttons are late 18th century-love digging those monsters... maybe a GW hiding in there

 

[btjbtj]

Thanks. VMI,

Don't laugh, but I don't know what a "GW" is. I assume it is a George Washington button? I Googled it, and several different kinds of buttons came up. Could you tell me what we should be looking for (what you are referring to)? Thanks, from -- the Newbies...hehehe. Lisa & John

That's an early site for sure and with targets like that your certainly the first to dig it. Large dandy buttons are late 18th century-love digging those monsters... maybe a GW hiding in there

 

[port ewen ace]

that is a certified honey hole---get ready for some major Colonial finds

 

[DetectingGodlikeOnOlympus]

I see a very worn and paper thin silver coin in the group photograph of the buttons. Has that been identified?

Can you see any evidence of what looks like a tree or a bush in the center?

 

[btjbtj]

Hi, nope, we haven't ID'd any buttons except three military ones. I will ask my brother to inspect that silver one with his loupe tomorrow and get back to you. Thanks for looking! -Lisa

QUOTE=DetectingGodlikeOnOlympus;5107312]I see a very worn and paper thin silver coin in the group photograph of the buttons. Has that been identified?

Can you see any evidence of what looks like a tree or a bush in the center?[/QUOTE]

 

[DetectingGodlikeOnOlympus]

Hi, nope, we haven't ID'd any buttons except three military ones. I will ask my brother to inspect that silver one with his loupe tomorrow and get back to you. Thanks for looking! -Lisa

QUOTE=DetectingGodlikeOnOlympus;5107312]I see a very worn and paper thin silver coin in the group photograph of the buttons. Has that been identified?

Can you see any evidence of what looks like a tree or a bush in the center?

[/QUOTE]

That is a very old silver coin. I really don't think it is a button. Since you are on a 17th century site in Massachusetts, please make sure that your brother is familiar with old coins and prepared to identify it from the merest clues.

You are in the running for a Massachusetts hammered silver coin from the 1600's. You will want to be really sure with that one.

I'm not trying to be pushy, I am very excited about your hunts and hunting ground.

Good luck!

 

[btjbtj]

You're not being pushy at all. We really appreciate the advice, and we are here to learn as well as to share. We will be detecting this weekend and will post anything new. I will tell him your thoughts about that silver button actually being a coin. Will let you know if we learn anything further. Thanks so much! Lisa


That is a very old silver coin. I really don't think it is a button. Since you are on a 17th century site in Massachusetts, please make sure that your brother is familiar with old coins and prepared to identify it from the merest clues.

You are in the running for a Massachusetts hammered silver coin from the 1600's. You will want to be really sure with that one.

I'm not trying to be pushy, I am very excited about your hunts and hunting ground.

Good luck![/QUOTE]

 

[Scrappy]

Nothing's notable on this one concerning the buttons. That silver button may be a coin, but looks to be of the milled variety if it is one, not an early hammered silver...

Listen, just remember to keep everything and post your finds. You're admittedly not versed in ID and that's totally cool. We're all here to learn, but just be sure to show everything you find and let knowledgable people have a look. What may be junk could be valuable relics. Once I found a bunch of what seemed like junk when I just started -they turned out to be cannon fuses.

You just never know

 

[weregolf]

Nice collection! many beeps there

 

[Rhode Hog]

I think it is some type of silver coin also,seen a few like it over the years post a photo of just the coin someone might id it.could be a good find

That is a very old silver coin. I really don't think it is a button. Since you are on a 17th century site in Massachusetts, please make sure that your brother is familiar with old coins and prepared to identify it from the merest clues.

You are in the running for a Massachusetts hammered silver coin from the 1600's. You will want to be really sure with that one.

I'm not trying to be pushy, I am very excited about your hunts and hunting ground.

Good luck![/QUOTE]

 

[Dirtwisher]

PLEASE post pics of that silver, magnified and both sides!

 

[Davers]

Hi everyone. I mentioned yesterday I would post some photos of the buttons we've found so far on the 1683 property, so here goes. Several have subtle remainders of gold gilt. There is one button I'm very curious about--it has what looks like wheat on the sides, and some writing on it. I'm wondering if it is a military uniform button--kind of poor condition. Any thoughts? Also, we've found voluminous musket balls of all shapes and sizes. Are there any musket ball fans out there? Would love to learn more about any of these items. And we also took a shot of our spoon collection. The whole spoon on the left is a Civil War mess kit spoon. Thanks for viewing! ~Lisa & John

Loads of Super Cool ,OLD Finds .(I have dug only 4 or 5 ) flat buttons over the years 2 were broken.
Even the Weathered one you dug are cool to me.
Love the old Spoons also & as for Musket / Round Balls ,I love to dig them ,tho yours pre-date mine.

I just picked up a book at Our last Civil War Show in Marietta GA, it's all about Musket & Round Balls .

"Musket Ball And Small Shot Identification"..A Guide. by Daniel M. Sivilich....It's around 200 pages & just came out this Year.
I have always had a heck of a time Id'ing Small Round Balls & Putting a Date of use on them.

I have not read it yet, but glancing through it , I believe it can answer most of my Round ball Questions.

Lot's of folk Despise or get tired of digging them in the NE . But I take all I can Dig.
Good Stuff
Davers

 

[btjbtj]

Davers, thanks for the great Book recommendation. That's one we'll need to get, for sure. We are thoroughly enjoying our search. Many members have mentioned how lucky we are to be the first diggers on a 1683 property, and it was just a fluke. My brother bought the property a couple of months ago for a song (at least, by Massachusetts standards) with the intention of a complete renovation because the property needs a lot of work. Naturally, The renovation work is slow going because he is enjoying the metal detecting way too much! Thanks for your advice and comments. -Lisa & John

 

[Patriot Relics]

Thanks. VMI,

Don't laugh, but I don't know what a "GW" is. I assume it is a George Washington button? I Googled it, and several different kinds of buttons came up. Could you tell me what we should be looking for (what you are referring to)? Thanks, from -- the Newbies...hehehe. Lisa & John

The holy grail of dandy button's dug here in the US are George Washington inaugural buttons, they fetch a pretty penny... here's a great site http://www.georgewashingtoninauguralbuttons.com/

 

[Tommy G]

Those are the most intricate patterns I've ever seen on flat buttons. Really nice finds. Congrats!

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[btjbtj]

Hi everyone. So John's iPhone broke. No close-ups of the silver button/coin(??) till tomorrow. However, he managed to find a few new things today before his phone broke, so I'll put them in a new post. Best find was a 1781 Spanish Real. Take care, Lisa & John