Some firsts and need a little help?

[jcooking]

I went back to a park that I found the 1906 Indian head penny, and a bunch of wheaties. I found my first ever Mercury dime!I found this military button and don't know about it or how to clean it. What is the best way to clean something like this without damaging it? I lightly scrubbed the back off to see the writing and it says WATERBURY BUTTON CO. Conn. I did an internet search and see that this company has been making military button since 1812. I don't think that this is that old, but does someone else know the era that it is from? I also found this bullet, which is the first of this kind that I have found. I see them on the relic forum and for folks in the south that are hunting civil war sites. Can anyone tell me if this is an old bullet? Thankyou all for helping out and happy hunting!

 

[Nancy-IL]

Sorry, I can't tell you about the button or bullet, but they are very nice finds. Love the Merc also. Have you posted on the relic and bottle hunting site? They might have an idea. HH, Nancy

 

[ohio fred]

n/t

 

[texastreasures]

the button you found is identical to a WWI button I found in a Houston area WW1 camp, so my guess is ww1 era.

 

[Hillbilly Bob]

[size=x-large][/size]Nice finds, I like the 1945 mercury dime and I would say the button is from the same era, the bullet is a two ringer pistol ball but it's hard to say what cal. with out knowing the size. Very nice finds...........

 

[jcooking]

Thanks all!!

 

[padiggin]

Your button looks like a US general service button from the WW1 and WWII buttonw. I've also seen those buttons on my father's military coat, so they must have been used at least until the 1960s. Not sure if the US military currently uses it. I found two just like it at an old site in Gettysburg, PA, but since I do a lot of civil war relic hunting, I know that style of button is not from the civil war. It's still a nice find though. To clean buttons, I just use an old toothbrush and just brush off the dirt. If the dirt is really caked on, I use a wood toothpick and gently, but firmly scrape the dirt off. Some people like to use lemon juice to clean their buttons, but I did that to a couple of civil war buttons and it took the remaining gold gilt right off the button, so I try to stay away from harsh acid type cleaning. I found that the toothbrush and toothpick do a much nicer job.

As far as your bullet, it's hard to tell what that is, it looks like it may be from the same era as your coin. I'm not a bullet expert, so I'm not really sure. Nice finds though!

Don

 

[richard n.c.]

great finds !

 

[JMorgan]

I like that button....I found one like that last year they are cool little finds.

 

[jcooking]

What is it made of? Brass?