πŸ₯‡ BANNER First Ever Washington Inaugural Button

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
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Maryland
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I went everywhere and dug everywhere over the weekend. First couple spots produced a wad of colonial items. I still have to get pics of those.

The last spot of the day yesterday was an unknown in the woods. Besides getting a tick, the area is rich in history along a major river. I had fond a place to access the river (it was kinda creepy back there), and dug the usual garbage and some nice 18th and 19th century buttons. I did not find any musket balls but believe I found an old homestead.

I had not intended on staying long due to the trash. I had used my Cibola. It hadn't been out playing much lately. I got a huge dig me I'm trash signal and out popped this large dandy button with a shank. I never remember to bring a camera with me, basically I don't want to ruin a $400 camera, so no in situ pics, basically I never get around to that and flip the thing over and see something on it, but it's caked in wet mud.

It gets thrown in the pouch and this morning I dig it and the other stuff out. And fall over when the mud starts coming off!

It's a George Washington Inaugural button, and if I wanted to dig one, this is the one I would have preferred to dig!

It's the "GW with linked states". Used for the 1789 inauguration, it is/was about the last thing on my bucket list! All the detail and the shank are there. The soil is very, very mild there.

Yowsers! I'll have to clean up the other stuff later tonight, one button has an anchor and eagle on it.

Wish I could call in mentally ill and go back today, but have to calm down and go to work. I'll try some renaissance wax on it to see if the detail can me made more visible, but it's all there!

View attachment IMG_1001.jpg IMG_1002.JPG

Can you spell "excited"?

Here it is cleaned a little more with some wax. View attachment IMG_1003.jpg I need to take better pics when I'm no so hyped!
 

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Upvote 118
Call in dead? How about retired since I'm well over 62 now. Lots of copperheads down there. And far off the road. Not a good place to get into trouble. I was actually way out of my element going there. It is a public place but not a park, so ok to dig but it's wild, overgrown territory.

And that is a buffalo nickel and an arrowhead or drill.

Copperheads, ticks...yes you are correct in assuming moderation is key in those conditions. I would definitely put that place on the back burner and tear it up on the fall! I visited an old, go-to site this past weekend and it was grossly overgrown. I had flashbacks of the 5 ticks on one pant leg and 4 on the other mushroom hunting, so I passed. Live to hunt another day! Ddf
 

Very nice finds Smokey. The detail on that G.W. is excellent!
 

That's an astounding find and the condition is just amazing ! Congratulations!
 

Congrats on the GW button, Wow! Here's your Navy button, I think. According to Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, it's Civil War, Federal.navy button.jpgnavy2.jpg
 

Wow Smokey your finds never cease to amaze. Congratulations! I'm voting banner.
 

Holy smokes ! Awesome find :occasion14:
 

Very nice & in great condition to boot.:blob8:
 

Thanks all and thanks for the I’d on the cw navy button, that is also a first for me.
 

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Congrats. I dug an Eagle w/Star variety many years ago. Would love to dig one of the linked states examples !
 

Very nice Smokey. First time finds are always the best and you got two in the same weekend :icon_thumright:. The GW button is a beauty. Congrats to you.
 

That's a beautiful little artifact there, mate - very well done indeed! :occasion14:
 

Hi, wow some nice finds. love the button Congrats:icon_thumright:
 

The linked states design is the best looking design IMO. Congrats on an incredible save!
 

Thanks. Saved from the next big flood.
 

Here's a picture of more from spot #2. IMG_1007.jpg A piece of salt glaze 18th century pottery, black glass bottle, redware, a piece of pipe stem, I rarely find these, rolled up piece of lead, fired and flattened musket ball, and another cuff link. There may be something on this one, not sure yet. Yes, this is the common stuff, but my mom got me started in this a long time ago and she would have been happy with what we call the common stuff.
 

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That’s an awesome GW button
Congrats
 

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