Found this button at a Missouri battle site, along with a few drops. Searched the internet but could not find an example exactly matching the backmark on this button. Am excited as it is my first button, but wondering if it is civil war period or a later date or even possibly a replica. Any help would surely be appreciated. It measures 22 mm across.
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newbie needs button help
- Thread starter digMOdirt
- Start date
laserfeller
Member
It very well could be could be a civil war period Missouri officers staff (stars above the eagle) button manufactured 1860 & after.
See information below:
SCOVILLS [star] WATERBURY [star]: pre Civil War (typically RMDC backmark), and Civil War and post Civil War (typically DM backmark)
Backmark Acronym Definitions
There are a two acronyms commonly seen when button backmarks are described.
RMDC: Backmarks with a raised mark in a depressed channel. These generally date to the 1830s to 1850s.
DM: Depressed marks (the lettering looks hand stamped into the metal). These typically date to the 1860s and later.
See information below:
SCOVILLS [star] WATERBURY [star]: pre Civil War (typically RMDC backmark), and Civil War and post Civil War (typically DM backmark)
Backmark Acronym Definitions
There are a two acronyms commonly seen when button backmarks are described.
RMDC: Backmarks with a raised mark in a depressed channel. These generally date to the 1830s to 1850s.
DM: Depressed marks (the lettering looks hand stamped into the metal). These typically date to the 1860s and later.
ironman200081
Active member
What a unique button you have there. It's not in Albert or Tice. I have been scratching my head thinking what it could be. The backmark "SCOVILLE MFG CO. WATERBURY" was used around 1860 and just before. Those early MSG buttons did not contain any stars on the backmark, and the "MFG" has an apostrophe between the "F" and the "G" in known examples. Your Missouri state seal on the front does not look like any 1850's and 1860's state buttons that I have seen. The details are not crisp, especially on the helmet and eagle, and that concerns me for a coat-sized button like this. I also cannot find any similar instances of Scoville using that unique font anywhere in the time period.
It's hard to tell from your photo, but is the button relatively flat? MSG buttons were cupcake topped, two-piece buttons.
While it *could* be a genuine button from an unidentified Scoville die variant form the 1850's, I believe that you have a replica. I have never seen a genuine button with details like yours. Were there ever reenactments at your battle site?
If you get a hankerin' to look at war and pre-war MSG buttons, Harry Ridgeway has a great photographic array on his website.
It's hard to tell from your photo, but is the button relatively flat? MSG buttons were cupcake topped, two-piece buttons.
While it *could* be a genuine button from an unidentified Scoville die variant form the 1850's, I believe that you have a replica. I have never seen a genuine button with details like yours. Were there ever reenactments at your battle site?
If you get a hankerin' to look at war and pre-war MSG buttons, Harry Ridgeway has a great photographic array on his website.
The button has the "cupcake" top and appears to be a two-piece button as there is a definite overlap on the back where the front wraps around to the back of the button. As far as re-enactments, I would imagine there have been some in that area. :sad: As you said, I cannot find another photo of the one like I have, which lead me to wonder if it is genuine or not. Thank you for your response.
Cajuncoinhunter
Moderator
What throws me a bit about this button is its coloring. IT LOOKS PERIOD. I have seen a "few" authentic CW "period" dug buttons in my time and the coloring of this button (whether an unidentified type or replica) is so similar to those that it just makes me wonder....
Interesting find !
CCH
Interesting find !
CCH