✅ SOLVED Found this today in a field in northern illinois. Thanks to cannonball guy

[Merf]

Help please. Measures about 5/8” in diameter

 

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[villagenut]

Looks like a rare CSA button......very special find i would reckon.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Villagenut is correct... your find is a very rare version of Confederate army "CSA" button. More specifically, this is called the "CS over A" version. It was made in New Orleans just after Louisiana seceded from the Union, and thus is what Albert calls a Confederate "Local" button, meaning, manufactured in the wartime South. It is shown in the Albert button-book as button #CS-88. All known specimens are this 17mm "vest size."

We believe the CS-over-A buttons were worn by the cannoneers of a Louisiana State Militia artillery regiment called the Washington Artillery, because a good number of these extremely rare buttons have been dug in campsites known to have been occupied by the Washington Artillery. It is thought that the "A" is separated from the CS because it is intended to mean Confederate States Artillery.

Most of the excavated specimens have a "push" in the button's high-domed front. Yours has only a small push/dent, so count yourself lucky.

Because you found it in a field in Northern Illinois, I would have to guess it was a wartime souvenir brought home by an Illinois yankee soldier.

The CS-over-A buttons were originally goldplated. But being made in the wartime South, the goldplating is thinner than the double or triple-plated gold on yankee and British-made uniform buttons... and thus you rarely see a CS-over-A with any gold gilt remaining on it. See the photo below.

 

[Merf]

Villagenut is correct... your find is a very rare version of Confederate army "CSA" button. More specifically, this is called the "CS over A" version. It was made in New Orleans just after Louisiana seceded from the Union, and thus is what Albert calls a Confederate "Local" button, meaning, manufactured in the wartime South. It is shown in the Albert button-book as button #CS-88. All known specimens are this 17mm "vest size."

We believe the CS-over-A buttons were worn by the cannoneers of a Louisiana State Militia artillery regiment called the Washington Artillery, because a good number of these extremely rare buttons have been dug in campsites known to have been occupied by the Washington Artillery. It is thought that the "A" is separated from the CS because it is intended to mean Confederate States Artillery.

Most of the excavated specimens have a "push" in the button's high-domed front. Yours has only a small push/dent, so count yourself lucky.

Because you found it in a field in Northern Illinois, I would have to guess it was a wartime souvenir brought home by an Illinois yankee soldier.

The CS-over-A buttons were originally goldplated. But being made in the wartime South, the goldplating is thinner than the double or triple-plated gold on yankee and British-made uniform buttons... and thus you rarely see a CS-over-A with any gold gilt remaining on it. See the photo below.

 

[Merf]

Thank you much cannonballguy. Greatly appreciated. It is the first confederate item I have found here in northern Illinois.

 

[scruggs]

Congrats on a very nice recovery!

 

[Merf]

Congrats on a very nice recovery!

 

[creskol]

On the rarity alone, I would cast my vote for BANNER!

 

[tamrock]

Man o man, that's one expensive button and rather fascinating it was found in Northern Illinois. Congratulations 👍

 

[ModernMiner]

Merf's buying the first round!!!
You don't mess around buddy. That rare button is amazing to say the least. Great info from Cannonballguy too. A real learning experience.
I vote *****BANNER***** too on the rarity of that CW button and the location where it was found.
Congrats to you Merf.
-MM-

 

[Merf]

Merf's buying the first round!!!
You don't mess around buddy. That rare button is amazing to say the least. Great info from Cannonballguy too. A real learning experience.
I vote *****BANNER***** too on the rarity of that CW button and the location where it was found.
Congrats to you Merf.
-MM-

Thanks MM. once I found out what it was it was a thrill and the high point of the month.

 

[Whynotnow?]

Great Find!

 

[ToddsPoint]

Nice find!

 

[ARC]

Missed this thread... fantastic find for your area... super well done and this would be writing a new blog in an old history book IMO.

 

[Oldrvrrat57]

Way to go! What a amazing recovery! I being from illinois also have made some recoveries that make me wonder how did this every make its way here, again congratulations

 

[fishstick]

Gives me hope!!!!! KILLER find!!!

 

[Doubter in MD]

That is a very nice find. Thank you for sharing it with us.