Eagle Flat Button with "E Pluribus Unum"

[paleomaxx]

I dug this button today in a yard that's produced late 1700's to mid 1800's relics. The shank is missing and it's bent, but the eagle with a shield is plainly visible and the banner above seems to be "E Pluribus Unum." There are 6-pointed stars all around the edge and the whole design is stamped into the brass which is fairly thin for a flat button. On the back you can see a little of the mirror image.



My first thought was an early diplomatic service button, but I couldn't find one that was similar online. Has anyone see this variety before and know what it was used for?

 

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[DiggerKid2003]

United StatesDiplomatic Service Buttons1795 to 1863 ? George Washington Inaugural Buttons Scroll down you will eventually find it. 1802 variety. Or possibly the 1824-35 variety?

 

[paleomaxx]

That's the one that was making me think this was a diplomatic service button, but that 1802 variety has a raised relief and outstretched wings.

 

[DiggerKid2003]

The 1824-35 variety has drooped wings but it still doesn't look exactly the same.

 

[paleomaxx]

The 1824-35 variety has drooped wings but it still doesn't look exactly the same.

There are enough similarities that it's a good starting point. OutdoorAdv has an early pewter diplomatic service button as their avatar and that also has some similar features, but lacks the banner. I wonder if small batches were manufactured in those days from people's memory and that resulted in such variation.