✅ SOLVED Need a date range on this button

[cti4sw]

Hi everyone! Been a long time since I've posted anything. I upgraded from an AT Pro (still have it) to an Equinox 600 and I love it... but I don't get to use it as much since I moved, and bc I had 2 kids.

I did get out this weekend to a historical house a buddy got permission to hunt - I posted everything in Today's Finds. The reason for this post is I'd like more info on the button I found.

It is a plain brass dandy button, about the size of a quarter, so I know it's 1700s, but I also know the shank can push it back further. The house was built in 1750, I'm wondering if the button is the same age as the house?


I also found a large bridle rosette, also brass, but with some weird plating on the front under an eroded design that looks (to me) like a prancing horse. The rosette still had leather attached. I broke the loop trying to bend it back ☹️😫 a date on this would be helpful too.

 

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[cti4sw]

Actually, I may have gotten my answer from another post! If anyone agrees that mine looks like the 4th one, it fits with what I expected.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Beautiful looking two-piece horse rosette likely c1875 - 1900.
Your buttons eye-loop is offset, so it's definitely an early one, I'm thinking c1800 - 20.
Dave

 

[cti4sw]

Beautiful looking two-piece horse rosette likely c1875 - 1900.
Your buttons eye-loop is offset, so it's definitely an early one, I'm thinking c1800 - 20.
Dave

Really? I thought the dime-sized ones were that period. This is bigger than a quarter, and it has that same crude raised center around the base of the eye loop that the #4 image does in that reference chart. Here's more pics.

 

[CRUSADER]

Late 18th C

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Crusader is correct. The first photos you posted made your button appear to have a drilled shank, similar to the first pic in the button-dating chart. Your second set of photos show it actually is the 4th button in the chart. It's a White Tombac 1-piece button with "spun back" from the late 1700s.

For anybody here who doesn't already know:
White Tombac is a version of Tombac (80-to-85% copper & about 15% zinc) which also contains 1% Arsenic. The Arsenic (which is actually a metal element) changes the "brassy" alloy's color to silver-ish. The presence of the Arsenic is also why these White Tombac buttons often come out of their 250 year burial in the ground with no patina, still looking as silver-ish (dull silver) as the day they were lost. (after you wash any dirt-encrustation off with a toothbrush).

 

[cti4sw]

Crusader is correct. The first photos you posted made your button appear to have a drilled shank, similar to the first pic in the button-dating chart. Your second set of photos show it actually is the 4th button in the chart. It's a White Tombac 1-piece button with "spun back" from the late 1700s.

For anybody here who doesn't already know:
White Tombac is a version of Tombac (80-to-85% copper & about 15% zinc) which also contains 1% Arsenic. The Arsenic (which is actually a metal element) changes the "brassy" alloy's color to silver-ish. The presence of the Arsenic is also why these White Tombac buttons often come out of their 250 year burial in the ground with no patina, still looking as silver-ish (dull silver) as the day they were lost. (after you wash any dirt-encrustation off with a toothbrush).

It's not white though. It reminds me of other brass buttons I've found. I have also found tombac buttons before and the coloring is not silvery at all (I think the bright fluorescent light is affecting how the color looks in the photo). I do agree with your assessment that it's closer to the 4th one in the chart, though, nonetheless. Thanks, Pete! Been a long time. So glad to see you're still around