Anyone see a button "like" this?

MikeyTwoTimes

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Apr 9, 2023
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I realize this is probably a pipe dream, but with the collective knowledge on here, I have hope! Found this very thin button today. About the size of a nickel, no trace of any backmark! It looks to have a slightly offset (high, right) shield and maybe a "V" on the lower right beneath the shield. Has anyone seen anything like this before? Or am I seeing things? The details are hard to pull out and I think there's a little gilt along the edges yet. I'll take any suggestions for cleaning beyond the light toothpick I've already done. Shank and solder puddle is almost completely missing. TIA!
 

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Looks like a copper/brass flat button from the early 19th Century or even late 18th Century. Plastic bristle brush/toothbrush and soapy water first, if you haven't already done that. Suggest rigging up an electrolysis setup to soften/free up some of the surface grunge. I wouldn't leave it in very long and keep checking it. Delicacy is better with the thin flat buttons. Try to get some sharper imagery and experiment with low side lighting angles to let the detail throw some shadows before and after cleaning. Folks on this forum have good suggestions for cleaning copper/brass gently. Does that look like a harp? Irish? Where did you find it, state? Coastal? Inland?
 
Thanks for the cleaning tips! I just used some light brushing (Qtips) and distilled water. No more detail revealed. I never thought about a harp! Very possible. Found in SE VA, coastal region (York County). I'll see what I can do with lighting, etc.
 
I’m not saying your button is worth anything. But they can be worth a lot.
When I started detecting I would have never thought that I would find buttons that are worth way more than all of the coins I’ve found. Until I know what I have, I clean very little. Just to be on the safe side. Good luck on your ID
 
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