Copper Alloy or Pewter?

[Neil in West Jersey]

Someone suggested that a recent find of mine may be a pewter "V" button from the British Fifth Regiment of Foot. I thought that pewter would always look silvery or white in color. This one is brown which led me to believe it is copper alloy. It was found in a field with many CW era silver and buttons including the 1851 three cent piece (one of three found that day) in the photo, but the field was farmed much earlier and numerous colonial era buttons were found as well.

Can anyone shed some light on how to identify pewter?

Thanks,
Neil

 

[GADiggerDan]

Pewter on either side of brass button.

Since brass is a combination of copper and zinc, I guess you could say it's a copper alloy. Maybe your button is mixed a little heavier on the copper. I'm no expert - just a guess. Yours looks more like the brass button in these pictures. I have another pewter button that is darker (blacker looking) than these two but I don't have a picture. Sometimes brass buttons take on a green patina, sometimes brown, sometimes orange looking, and I've seen some that look almost black. I think it's dependent on the type of soil and length of time they are in the ground. I prefer brown over green.

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

Thanks for the input. I examined the button again today and I am pretty sure it is a copper alloy (which includes bronze & brass).

The real test was the VDI factor. On my White's V3, pewter buttons typically have a VDI below that of a US Nickel, while brass can have a VDI anywhere from just below a nickel up to the coin range. This particular button has a VDI of 26, which I would think is more indicative of brass.

Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[GADiggerDan]

Good point. I had not tested them for ID.
I air tested the 3 pewter buttons I have with a Minelab xterra 50. Here's the results:

Cast brass button = 33 (US penny IDs at 33)
2 piece brass button = 33

All 3 pewter buttons = 12 (US nickle IDs at 15)

I wouldn't think it's pewter if it IDs higher than a nickle.