Civil War or Colonial Era Button???? or what?

[midevilone]

Help me ID this...

It's made of lead.

I found it about 7" down in a town that was settled in 1778.
[attachment 256911 photo1.JPG][attachment 256912 photo2.JPG][attachment 256913 photo3.JPG][attachment 256914 photo4.JPG][attachment 256915 photo5.JPG]

 

[~ACE~]

Second picture down on the left hand side...is that lettering on the right edge? It's really cool!

 

[Tin Fin]

I would have thought it to be a Wax Seal, but there is no design in it. It is possible the design was a separate piece that was attached to this part, but I can't say I've seen one that is made in two parts. Only other thing would be a paper weight - small and heavy.

 

[Birdseed]

Fishing sinker

 

[midevilone]

Hi Birdseed, on your fishing sinker idea, have you seen similar ones before? the reason I ask is that it seems an odd/complex shape for a sinker.

 

[Tin Fin]

Ah, that could be for net fishing.

 

[midevilone]

We are a freshwater river town, and net fishing is unheard of around here (at least nowadays)

 

[Birdseed]

I have seen these before when I was a kid in the 50s, various sizes. Don't know if they were made specificly for sinkers or adapted from someting else. Old timers used to tie their hand lines around the rim.

Pete

 

[Ant]

It reminds me of a lead rivet.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachments/today-s-finds/633569d1336439062-pretty-interesting-thingy-ma-jig-civil-war-company-letter-artillery-may-6th-group-hunt-rivet-thing-016.jpg

http://bearriverhomestead.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/camp-lead-rivets-percussion-cap1.jpg