Nipple Button?

[JSM1986]

Is this a nipple button? If it is. How old is it?

 

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[Mud Hut]

It looks like it could possibly be the remains of an early Harvey-Wilcox livestock marker (ear tag), originally patented August 8, 1899, and used up throughout the first part of the 20th century.

Here is a link to the patent: Patent US630349 - Stock-marker. - Google Patents

Below are a few photographs for comparison purposes:

 

[JSM1986]

There is no writing on it what so ever

 

[Mud Hut]

There is no writing on it what so ever

You must have cleaned it better since that photograph was taken.

 

[JSM1986]

Yes sir.

 

[lastleg]

Why would you put a button . . there?

 

[JSM1986]

I'm not for sure of the proper name. I've seen button that look similar to this from the 1700s that were refered to as nipple buttons because of the raised center

 

[JSM1986]

Here are some examples found on google.

 

[CRUSADER]

I'm not for sure of the proper name. I've seen button that look similar to this from the 1700s that were refered to as nipple buttons because of the raised center

Nope, nipple buttons are mid 1600s. Yours doesn't look the right metal

 

[JSM1986]

Ok thanks.

 

[nhbenz]

What does the other side look like?