I bet you never MD'ed a place like this.

[John 'n' W.Va]

I rarely get out to MD anymore, life is just too busy. This was just too tempting. Yesterday, as I pull out of the parking lot at work, they were demo-ing this old house that was over grown with brush. Today I had to go play in the loose dirt. Problem was I had a hard time getting my detector to GB. This place was very trashy. I do demo-ed houses a lot, but this place was ridiculousness. I found Pontiac hood ornaments and glass carburetors. Car parts were totally everywhere. I than realized this place was an old junkyard. The cars were gone, but lots of their remains were everywhere. Non-stop! I felt pretty dumb. The trash was up to the house which was filled in with yellow clay. I noticed that the porch was the only area not filled in. 10ft.x 10ft. this was my only hope. It was trashy, but not like the rest of the place. I'm sure I had the sensitivity too high on my F-70. I didn't realize it till after I was done. It was running smooth at 80 sen. threshold -4, dis 5 and 1 tone. Ground was 85. An hour and a half hunt and I got a few bottles, a pile of copper and some horseradish plants. I am an opportunist. I get what is available. I also got a flat button and and 1864 IH at the porch site. Sorry no clad, not one. I know little about flat buttons. Any help is appreciated.

[attachment 135080 8-6-09flatbuttonft.jpg]
[attachment 135081 8-6-09flatbuttonbk.jpg]

Size is 738-740 on the button.

[attachment 135082 8-6-091864ft.jpg]
[attachment 135083 8-6-091864bk.jpg]

The porch was kind to the IH. It was really clean.

 

[Merf]

Nice finds John.
That 1864 IH is in excellent shape and a valuable find I think.
1864 18 38 120 190 235 350 600 1,800 6,000 25,000

I have found several of those flat buttons. They date to the mid 1800s.
I tumble mine in a mixture of water, white aquariunm gravel, and about a half ounce of white vinegar.
Here are pics of a couple I have tumbled.

 

[Merf]

I forgot to mention that they were originaly gold gilt buttons [gold plated] but being in the ground so long takes it's toll.
Some are rare and will bring a good price at auction.
They almost all have manufacturers back marks that you can research to find the approx date they were made.

There's no one site that even comes close to covering all buttons, but here are a few links that you might like to check out:

http://www.waterburybutton.com/patterns.shtml

http://www.civilwarbuttons.com/

http://pw1.netcom.com/~jimyce/bm.html

http://www.oldcopper.org/button_makers.htm

 

[zaxfire69]

Hey Jon . Those are some nice looking buttons. I have been digging some like yours at a site from the early and middle 1800's. Those buttons are from that time period. Nice finds for sure. Hey Merf what Auction could these be sold at? I have some I could auction off. Here are a few of mine. Awesome finds get out there and find some more.
zaxfire69

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

I forgot to mention that they were originaly gold gilt buttons [gold plated] but being in the ground so long takes it's toll.
Some are rare and will bring a good price at auction.
They almost all have manufacturers back marks that you can research to find the approx date they were made.

There's no one site that even comes close to covering all buttons, but here are a few links that you might like to check out:

http://www.waterburybutton.com/patterns.shtml

http://www.civilwarbuttons.com/

http://pw1.netcom.com/~jimyce/bm.html

http://www.oldcopper.org/button_makers.htm

Just got home and saw the post. Thanks for the info. Buttons always fool me. I had a button with a Egyptian on it and thought it was a newer button. Found out it was from 1850.

 

[Merf]

Zaxfire----Those are some nice buttons.
That last one has lots of gold for a dug button.
E-Bay http://collectibles.shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=flat+buttons&_sacat=1

Also if you google CW buttons and antique butons you will find lots of collectors, sellers , and buyers.

 

[Gunnar MN]

I have been hunting rust such a site diging tons of trash but i have found 6 good targets mixed in whith the trash and i plan on going back whith a sifter in the deper parts for you it was all worth it for that 1864 coin what an amaze

 

[RickIowa2009]

Sweet

 

[markg]

Real nice.