Any ideas on what this might be/have been. Found this in a 1940's dig site this summer. It is 1 3/4" across, thin as in a little less than a cent, solid copper. Had more patina on it but had to clean it up some as it was down about 6" in the ground with crud. Nothing on the reverse, just smooth. This farm was reported to have had a lot of horses and oxen earlier on, could this be decorative tack for halters or bridles? Farm actually dated to the 1850's but most of the stuff in this dump was from the 40's.
It does have a bent vertical loop on the reverse. And my mistake, after pulling this back out the obverse is stamped through to the reverse. I was thinking of another piece I have not posted yet.
It was reported in town history that George Washington had passed through New Marlborough, Ma at some point and stayed at an Inn about a mile from this dump site. Also that several buttons had been found there also. I just noticed that this has 13 stars and if you count the outside edges and top, thirteen stripes. Any significance?
Is a button early 19th c or possibly late 18th being one of the many variants of this type eagle from the great seal. Was very popular in the ca 1790-1820 period. I can't definitively say if it's military but there's a very good chance. I know a few people who ar far better with these then me. Nice find!
Thanks so much for the help. I'm planning on detecting the area this coming summer where the other reported finds came from. A lot of history including Shay's Rebellion in Sheffield, Ma. about 5 miles from me. A marker is on route 7. A plane also went down in the same New Marlborough area in the 1960's so who knows?!
Actually the loop is copper but my scanner cast it in a brass look. I need to clean the reverse to see better if it was put on separate.
Here are a few photo's of the dig where I found the button I posted plus one of the bottles I found. Anyone else care to share their digs?
