Texas Cuff Button: Civil War or Post-War?

[callicles]

Quick back story: I found this cuff button in the attic of my great-grandmother’s old home. It was in a trunk with various items. There is Civil War era stuff in the attic, but so are things from early 20th Century as well. As you can see, it has an iron backing with no back marks that I can see. I’m just wondering if it is a reunion button or some post-War button. We also had relatives who fought in the Civil War, none however are from Texas that I know.

Thanks for looking and for any feedback!

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

You're going to have to ask William Leigh about the time-period of your Texas cuff-button. It's impolite to post somebody's email address on the internet, because spammer bots will grab it, so I'll simply tell you that his contact information is at his website, here:
William Leigh: Home

 

[smokeythecat]

Cannonballguy is correct. William will know. I've known William for more years than I'd care to admit to. Is that a tinned iron back on it? The backs on the buttons make the world of difference in identification.

 

[callicles]

Well, it looks Iron to me, but I’m not too knowledgeable about metals to know if it is tin.

 

[coinman123]

Similar one on this link, dispute there too if it is Civil War or later/before. This one has backmarks though.

https://www.findmall.com/read.php?82,2266310

 

[coinman123]

Similar one on this link, dispute there too if it is Civil War or later/before. This one has backmarks though.

https://www.findmall.com/read.php?82,2266310

Haven't seen any with the same back as yours.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Callicles, button-book author Alphaeus Albert's use of the term "tinned iron back" (abbreviated in the book as t.i.b.) means tinplated iron sheetmetal. Sometime before the civil war, it was discovered that plating iron sheetmetal objects, such as cans, cups, canteens, and button-backs kept the iron from rusting, until the tin plating wore off. Many civil war canteens, drinking cups, and other "tinware" were tin plated iron sheetmetal. The term "tin can" came from the tinplating of food cans, but the name is misleading, because those cans are not actually made of tin. Modern steel sheetmetal cans are still tinplated.

And, yes, your Texas cuff button appears to have an iron back. Do the magnet test to confirm it.

 

[GB1]

that is pretty cool since i from Texas i always wanted to find one

 

[callicles]

Followed up with TCBG’s suggestion and contacted William Leigh. He graciously responded to me. He is a very nice guy. I asked him if it were okay for me to summarize his email to me here for you guys to which he agreed. Mr. Leigh indicated that mine is likely a kepi button, not a cuff button. It has a tin-iron back. Some Civil War kepi buttons contained tin-iron backs. The die appears Civil War era but these types were also used post war. Basically, there is not enough sufficient evidence to positively identify it as Civil War, though it is possible it could be. However, it is safe to conclude it is a 19th Century button.