Silver buttons and very big 1700's buckle

[Cape Hunter]

I was reviewing some other recent items I found and never posted. I have two coins that I believe to been made into buttons. One with holes I knew was a weird button when I dug it, because it was so thin. Much thinner than any button I have seen. Started cleaning and my hunch was right, it was Silver. Really worn, looks to be possibly a one reale. The other 1781 half reale is in great condition except the kings head is missing. Bummer. I believe there was a shank attached as a home made fancy button but it fell apart. This buckle is the biggest I have ever dug. It was not down deep. It's another buckle I found in a peat bog next to a pond just a couple of inches under leaves. Crazy, could pull it out with just my hands. Has a gold leafed band that was glued around the top and is still shiny. This must have been one big shoe or boot. I found the loose buckle part that matches this buckle next to a early home site. Not that far away. Part probably came from the buckle that made it home. The award or medal is from a later homesite. Looks like it can be modified to 1st, 2nd place or what ever with a snap in number. Little pewter button with a cross was certainly buried. Interesting simple design.

 

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[Digger RJ]

I was reviewing some other recent items I found and never posted. I have two coins that I believe to been made into buttons. One with holes I knew was a weird button when I dug it, because it was so thin. Much thinner than any button I have seen. Started cleaning and my hunch was right, it was Silver. Really worn, looks to be possibly a one reale. The other 1781 half reale is in great condition except the kings head is missing. Bummer. I believe there was a shank attached as a home made fancy button but it fell apart. This buckle is the biggest I have ever dug. It was not down deep. It's another buckle I found in a peat bog next to a pond just a couple of inches under leaves. Crazy, could pull it out with just my hands. Has a gold leafed band that was glued around the top and is still shiny. This must have been one big shoe or boot. I found the loose buckle part that matches this buckle next to a early home site. Not that far away. Part probably came from the buckle that made it home. The award or medal is from a later homesite. Looks like it can be modified to 1st, 2nd place or what ever with a snap in number. Little pewter button with a cross was certainly buried. Interesting simple design.

Very Nice!!!! Congrats!!!!!

 

[pepperj]

Those are top shelf recoveries, very nice.
Strange delimitation of the silver, wonder how that happened.
Is the little cross item just plain on the other side?

 

[TXRandy]

The award thing is half of a two piece belt buckle

 

[Cape Hunter]

The award thing is half of a two piece belt buckle

Yes, that crossed my mind. But the metal is quite thin. Would not have been very strong unless it was for a lady which sounds possible seeing the flower design.

 

[TXRandy]

it was for a cloth sash, not made for heavy use, thin stamped brass versus the thick cast brass typically used for military two piece buckles.

 

[JeffInMass]

Very interesting finds- Congrats!

 

[Cape Hunter]

Those are top shelf recoveries, very nice.
Strange delimitation of the silver, wonder how that happened.
Is the little cross item just plain on the other side?

Small cross button has no writing on the back. Just the remains of a broken shank. The hexagon design is unique. I wondered if it represented something more meaningful.

 

[Cape Hunter]

it was for a cloth sash, not made for heavy use, thin stamped brass versus the thick cast brass typically used for military two piece buckles.

It was found about 20 feet from a old loose stone root cellar. Found several coins from 1840-late 1860's. Nothing after that period. Also found parts to tiny lanterns, small ladies rings, broches and decorative buttons, but also a 1847 brothel coin. Interesting spot for sure.

 

[oldmxrat]

Neat stuff, thanks for posting.

 

[Silvermonkey]

Very nice finds Cape Hunter. That's a big ole buckle for sure. I will say I've never come across an old coin doing special duty as a button. The fact that the coins in question are old Spanish makes them that much more special.

 

[Relicific]

Very nice finds

 

[ArfieBoy]

Great finds! Congratulations! Thank you for sharing.

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

I was reviewing some other recent items I found and never posted. I have two coins that I believe to been made into buttons. One with holes I knew was a weird button when I dug it, because it was so thin. Much thinner than any button I have seen. Started cleaning and my hunch was right, it was Silver. Really worn, looks to be possibly a one reale. The other 1781 half reale is in great condition except the kings head is missing. Bummer. I believe there was a shank attached as a home made fancy button but it fell apart. This buckle is the biggest I have ever dug. It was not down deep. It's another buckle I found in a peat bog next to a pond just a couple of inches under leaves. Crazy, could pull it out with just my hands. Has a gold leafed band that was glued around the top and is still shiny. This must have been one big shoe or boot. I found the loose buckle part that matches this buckle next to a early home site. Not that far away. Part probably came from the buckle that made it home. The award or medal is from a later homesite. Looks like it can be modified to 1st, 2nd place or what ever with a snap in number. Little pewter button with a cross was certainly buried. Interesting simple design.

such cool buttons and buckle, great save. love that silver!

 

[CC Hunter]

The “Award” item is in fact a stamped brass wreath for an 1850’s era two-piece Tongue & Wreath style Belt Clasp, as earlier suggested in comments. These smaller fancy style belt clasps were a popular fashion item with women and children of the period, often being seen in Daguerreotype and Ambrotype photo images. Through extensive research over the years, it has been determined that these were referred to as Clasps during the era, rather than buckles, being supported by period newspaper advertisements and company directories. Additionally these Clasps were worn on Belts, of thin leather or woven cloth, also supported by company advertisements for the belt manufacturers. Considering there are varieties of known thin stamped brass Tongue & Wreath clasps with clearly marked company names, has provided the direct link to reference the advertisements of the time listing belts (nothing during the era lists sashes).

This particular style of stamped brass wreath with the design of impressed roses and leaves, likely matched up with a center tongue piece featuring a European style Stag Head design. There are other possible design variations, although recovered examples throughout the country appear to be more prevalent with the Stag Head.

The complete recovered Tongue & Wreath belt clasps of similar design shown below, including one on portions of the original woven cloth belt, are from the Steamship Arabia, sunk in the Missouri River in 1856.

 

[Just some Guy]

Awesome Finds

 

[Cape Hunter]

The “Award” item is in fact a stamped brass wreath for an 1850’s era two-piece Tongue & Wreath style Belt Clasp, as earlier suggested in comments. These smaller fancy style belt clasps were a popular fashion item with women and children of the period, often being seen in Daguerreotype and Ambrotype photo images. Through extensive research over the years, it has been determined that these were referred to as Clasps during the era, rather than buckles, being supported by period newspaper advertisements and company directories. Additionally these Clasps were worn on Belts, of thin leather or woven cloth, also supported by company advertisements for the belt manufacturers. Considering there are varieties of known thin stamped brass Tongue & Wreath clasps with clearly marked company names, has provided the direct link to reference the advertisements of the time listing belts (nothing during the era lists sashes).

This particular style of stamped brass wreath with the design of impressed roses and leaves, likely matched up with a center tongue piece featuring a European style Stag Head design. There are other possible design variations, although recovered examples throughout the country appear to be more prevalent with the Stag Head.

The complete recovered Tongue & Wreath belt clasps of similar design shown below, including one on portions of the original woven cloth belt, are from the Steamship Arabia, sunk in the Missouri River in 1856.

Thank you! You certainly knew exactly what it was!! I will go back in a few days to where I found it and see if there is the other half buried some place near by. The photo looks like they may have been polished or gold leafed. Just about everything was around that time. Bill

 

[CC Hunter]

Thank you! You certainly knew exactly what it was!! I will go back in a few days to where I found it and see if there is the other half buried some place near by. The photo looks like they may have been polished or gold leafed. Just about everything was around that time. Bill

Bill,

Over the past couple decades, recovering and researching these fascinating Tongue & Wreath belt clasps has been a serious passion of mine. I have personally found several examples identical to your find. Many of these were silver plated, and others were covered in gold gilt. I have a perfect example of the Stag Head clasp, with both silver plate on the center piece along with gold gilt on the Stag Head. Some of these such as the Stag Head, feature a design motif of thin stamped brass that is then attached to the clasp center disc by means of wire prongs inserted through a hole in the disc. Very delicate of course, so difficult to locate intact after all these years.

 

[Cape Hunter]

Bill,

Over the past couple decades, recovering and researching these fascinating Tongue & Wreath belt clasps has been a serious passion of mine. I have personally found several examples identical to your find. Many of these were silver plated, and others were covered in gold gilt. I have a perfect example of the Stag Head clasp, with both silver plate on the center piece along with gold gilt on the Stag Head. Some of these such as the Stag Head, feature a design motif of thin stamped brass that is then attached to the clasp center disc by means of wire prongs inserted through a hole in the disc. Very delicate of course, so difficult to locate intact after all these years.

I have been gold leafing some dandy buttons I found which now look dazzling verses the drab dark green when they come back out of the earth. I enjoy a personal attachment to many found items that now belong to me who someone else once cherished. You are not alone in your endeavor.

 

[Ifoundit69]

Nice score , that flattened silver with the holes
I am seeing a few numerals on there!