Hello everyone, welcome to Buttons 101. There seems to be some confusion over two buttons, "The Tombac" and the Pewter Variety. This is good for the Novice as well as the experienced Metal Detectorists. The Tombac is grey or sometimes yellowish Button made from a brass alloy, tin and zinc. Some even contain arsenic. It is easily spotted by the mostly Greyish dull look with a dome on the back and the shank which is usually brass and soldered to the dome. It also has the hallmark swirls on the back. Some are plain, flower patterned or some other design.
Pewter Buttons are made of tin with lead and obviously have some weight to them. I usually find the real old ones and they are "Flakey" on the edges and fragile. You need to be careful with these because they will fall apart once they hit the air. Keep them in something that is airtight and not free from moving around. I've seen alot of these buttons from the Revolutionary War era. These usually have a number representitive of the regiment during the War. So far I've only found plain ones.
One other fact, back in the 1800's usually Men wore buttons to fasten things like shirts and pants. Women mostly wore buttons for fashion not for practical items.
After a while manufaturer's used the backs as advertisement or sometimes to commemerate something. I have found a few like that. One say's " Waterloo 1815" with an ornate picture below the shank. I'll post that one when i can find the picture, but here are the Tombac and pewter buttons.
Buttons 101
Moderator: Daniel
Forum rules
Here's a link to how to post a topic with images in our community https://coinauctionshelp.com/welcome-to ... community/
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You also agree to follow these guidelines. You must agree to these rules to be a member of this forum. NO SPAM! Spam is deleted within minutes, no spam will ever be left in our community.
1. Post a front and back image of your coin with a specific question about what you’re seeing or asking about and one coin per topic.
2. Please remove coin from the holder unless it’s US or an official mint case or unless it is graded by a grading service.
3. Images should be taken by a camera or cell phone camera, we ask that members don’t use images through a microscope screen.
4. Always start your own topic, please don’t ask about your coin or post your coin in someone else’s coin topic.
5. Do not send private messages about your coin unless an Admin ask you too and the same for sending emails through the board.
6. No spam. Do not post any links to your coin or other non-coin websites.
7. Always be respectful even if something makes you upset or you don’t agree with a member. You can always get a second opinion elsewhere. If you have an issue then politely ask an admin in an PM. PM’s are for issues, technical and personal, but not for coin questions (refer to number 5 on this list). Our community is not a soap box for complaining or drama, so please refrain from doing so here.[/size]
Here's a link to how to post a topic with images in our community https://coinauctionshelp.com/welcome-to ... community/
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You also agree to follow these guidelines. You must agree to these rules to be a member of this forum. NO SPAM! Spam is deleted within minutes, no spam will ever be left in our community.
1. Post a front and back image of your coin with a specific question about what you’re seeing or asking about and one coin per topic.
2. Please remove coin from the holder unless it’s US or an official mint case or unless it is graded by a grading service.
3. Images should be taken by a camera or cell phone camera, we ask that members don’t use images through a microscope screen.
4. Always start your own topic, please don’t ask about your coin or post your coin in someone else’s coin topic.
5. Do not send private messages about your coin unless an Admin ask you too and the same for sending emails through the board.
6. No spam. Do not post any links to your coin or other non-coin websites.
7. Always be respectful even if something makes you upset or you don’t agree with a member. You can always get a second opinion elsewhere. If you have an issue then politely ask an admin in an PM. PM’s are for issues, technical and personal, but not for coin questions (refer to number 5 on this list). Our community is not a soap box for complaining or drama, so please refrain from doing so here.[/size]
- Daniel
- Administrator
- Posts: 26481
- Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 4:59 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Has thanked: 1146 times
- Been thanked: 4157 times
- Contact:
Re: Buttons 101
Interesting and thanks for sharing. I think I have found a pewter button before but never thought much of it. I don't have it either since it was a long time ago. This did jog my memory some. I can remember finding and old cap gun that was completely rusted. At first I didn't know if it was a real gun or cap gun until I dug it all out.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 39 Replies
- 29707 Views
-
Last post by Earle42
-
- 4 Replies
- 360 Views
-
Last post by Paul
-
- 3 Replies
- 755 Views
-
Last post by Paul
-
- 2 Replies
- 50 Views
-
Last post by pnwmakes
-
- 5 Replies
- 299 Views
-
Last post by Earle42
-
- 4 Replies
- 232 Views
-
Last post by Earle42
-
- 5 Replies
- 993 Views
-
Last post by Earle42
-
- 5 Replies
- 1637 Views
-
Last post by AverageStacker
-
- 3 Replies
- 376 Views
-
Last post by Paul
-
- 4 Replies
- 731 Views
-
Last post by Daniel