Need help with a button

[Clad the Impaler]

Hi everyone. I found this button md'ing yesterday. It was found near a fence that separates a park from a forest preserve, about 3 1/2 to 4 inches deep. It has been hit by a mower blade and is damaged. It looks old, but might not be. I have had trouble cleaning it, as the back has crusted dirt on it. Button is black in color, with some parts being brown/reddish brown (including the hook). There is a bird on the button w/ its wings spread (eagle maybe?). There is a shield of some sort in the center of the birds chest area. Button is about the size of a modern era U.S. clad quarter. I'm attaching a few pics, I hope they turn out ok. Any help in determining if this button is old, rare, and/or valuable is greatly appreciated. Thanks. Oh, btw, I can't see any lettering or inscriptions on the reverse, it's too crusted with hard, cementlike dirt. Any ideas on cleaning?

 

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[vayank54]

It's a great seal button. The US army started using them in 1902. Your's looks to be about WWI period. You might trying dishwashing liquid to get the crud off. If that doesn't work use a 50/50 mix of water and lemon juice. Just keep and eye on it and don't leave it in to long. Take it out every now and then and brush and rinse it off. The button is really worth anything as they are common. Sorry

 

[nova treasure]

It's amazing all the WW1 Great seal buttons that have been posted lately. Glad to see another recovered and able to be displayed for it's History.

Nova Treasure

 

[Clad the Impaler]

vayank54- Thanks very much for your help w/ the button id. I really appreciate it. I'm going to try to clean it w/ dishwashing liquid first, then will try the lemon juice method if that doesn't work. Hopefully, I can get it really nice and clean. I'm just disappointed that it's damaged .

 

[BuckleBoy]

Nice ID, folks.

Clad, your Tnet username gets Two Thumbs Up.

 

[Iron Patch]

It's a great seal button. The US army started using them in 1902. Your's looks to be about WWI period. You might trying dishwashing liquid to get the crud off. If that doesn't work use a 50/50 mix of water and lemon juice. Just keep and eye on it and don't leave it in to long. Take it out every now and then and brush and rinse it off. The button is really worth anything as they are common. Sorry

This is a recording.... 74957305: - OFF

 

[Clad the Impaler]

Nice ID, folks.

Clad, your Tnet username gets Two Thumbs Up.

BuckleBoy- I had an epiphany a few days ago about that...was digging LOTS of clad, and scraped 3 coins w/ my Lesche while digging them (thank goodness all 3 were clad), hence my new username... .

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Look here for your backmark. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,212590.100.html

 

[Clad the Impaler]

Look here for your backmark. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,212590.100.html

Thanks for the link bigcypresshunter. The back of this button has hard, cementlike crusted dirt on it. I don't want to scrape it for fear of damaging it. Until I can get all of this crud off, I can't read anything on the back.