✅ SOLVED How old is this flat button?

[FreeBirdTim]

Found a flat button today and I can actually see a design (for a change). Looks like a basket weave design to me. The shank is bent, but it's still pretty neat. It's the same size as a nickel, but it is paper thin.

Can anyone give me a good idea as to it's age? I tried to research it, but I'm definitely not button expert. Any help would be appreciated.

 

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[smokeythecat]

That design was a very popular design about the time of the Revolutionary War, plus a little later. Nice find. I haven't found one of those in years.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Yah it is a basket weave type design.. Here are two i dug out in the Northern neck of Virginia that are similar to yours.. like smokey was saying they date from around the Rev war era up to about 1815 with the no back-mark on them.. I also have a couple with the design with back-marks on them that date sometime from the 1815-1830s..

 

[smokeythecat]

The thinner metal ones tend to be a little earlier.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Wow, that's a big surprise! I've found a few buttons in this spot, but the others were all too far gone to pick up a design. Guess I'm headed back there tomorrow! Thanks for the help, guys!

 

[smokeythecat]

Be very careful with any pewter buttons. Rhode Island has a KILLER rev war button, and it is SCARCE. Has an anchor on it.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Also becareful they are not a "floral" George Washington Inaugural button like the ones on this page J. Harold Cobb's George Washington Inaugural Button Collection (last row down 7th one) and also down the page the last photo of the basket weave GW button...

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Smokeythecat, Thanks for the heads up on the RI button. I'll have to do a Google image search to see what it looks like. Sounds like a challenge to find one!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

HutSiteDigger, I will give ALL buttons more respect now! So far, I've found four at this spot. I usually just rinse them off in a nearby stream and then stick them in my pocket with all my other finds! Not too smart, to say the least.