WAR OF 1812 BUTTON CACHE

So yesterday I went back to the 1780's house where I have made many discoveries over the past few years. I've pulled large cents, IH's, seated and spanish silver out of this site, including much more.

I was going over an area in the front lawn where I'm pretty sure I've covered before, and I got a penny-type signal on my XLT. I dug and at 4 or so inches was suprised to see a silver glimmer. I pulled it out gently, and noticed it was an old button. I went inside to clean it off and show the owner...I knew it was something pretty rare!! At this point I'm shaking...rescanned the hole and received another similar signal. Thought holy crap another one!! I had it pinpointed and carefully dug around the signal as to not damage it. I got it out of the plug and to my amazement i see a huge clump of these buttons next to the hole!!!

There ended up being a total of SIXTEEN of these buttons. Most were attached by a string, like someone carried them around as replacements. This string fell apart upon cleaning. I've lightly brushed these whith soap and water, and about 6 or 7 seem to be in beautiful condition. The others have some green corossion. They are all identical, shank is still on each one.

They read: REGIMENT OF INFANTRY around the edge. 21 Rt. underneath the eagle.
Back reads: GILES RICHARDS BOSTON with a small eagle.

Based on my research, these are definitely from the war of 1812, and this regiment was involved in my area (Lake Champlain).

Talk about the find of a lifetime....any info on rartiy/history/value would be much appreciated!!

Nice!!!!

great find....Banner vote from me!!!!

im speechless! if they are authenic thats banner all the way.

Man, You guys are all smokin on the buttons this week.  Thats a great find. 

  Now that is great!!!!

  The good news is you can pretty much get all that green off and they will  be even more stunning!  Just don't start cleaning unless you know what you're doing. 

 

Wowser, twist my arm and I will vote BANNER!   Quite a find and very, very impressive when lined up in the photo.  Congrats, those great finds are even more special when they sneak up on you. 

Don
HH

Man, caches of silver, gold, and now buttons... Iron Patch, do you think a little lemon juice will get the green off? Amazing find!

Speechless.. Banner

Amazing find. Beautiful buttons. Banner vote here.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

 

Amazing find, surely a Banner find the picture of all them buttons as they come out of the ground, with the string still attached

SS

Wow those are absolutely awsome! 

That is amazing. You got my vote for sure.

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW thats all I can say 

Holy cache of beautiful buttons batman!

I can't vote banner fast enough!

Amazing!

  BTW...  minty 1812 officer buttons like that, depending on what they are, can fetch somehwere in the few hundred dollar range.  So even if it was $250 each that's a good score.  Will be interesting to see if you can find some sales to get some type of reference.

Seen a similar lot of buttons on here before, not the same type although similar timeframe.  Makes you wonder if it was part of a button sellers lot

If you don't have the string, at least you have the picture, so keep that safe   Great story, & dream find for most button hunters

the mother lode for sure! BANNER! congrats! they are in beautiful shape too!

  BTW...  minty 1812 officer buttons like that, depending on what they are, can fetch somehwere in the few hundred dollar range.  So even if it was $250 each that's a good score.  Will be interesting to see if you can find some sales to get some type of reference.

So might be $4000 on a good day

I think they should stay together

When I first read this I thought it was a joke My old hunting partner found an almost identical cache with the buttons still on the string.. Great find, you topped my entire 1812 total in one hole  Whether you decide to sell or hold on to those guys, I think you'll be happy .. btw, banner

  BTW...  minty 1812 officer buttons like that, depending on what they are, can fetch somehwere in the few hundred dollar range.  So even if it was $250 each that's a good score.  Will be interesting to see if you can find some sales to get some type of reference.

So might be $4000 on a good day

I think they should stay together

  It's very hard to say with 1812.  On average that period gets much less than what CW and Rev (American & Loyalist) do, but if they are on the scarce side, and given the condition, they might have some real good $$$ value.  The problem is the guys with the very deep pockets seem to go after CW, Rev, & GW buttons.  I am definitely not trying to down play it,  it's a big score no matter what.

epic!!!! and B.A.N.N.E.R vote from me

My gosh grasshopper, that is just an incredible find . . . a big congratulations to you!
You've got my vote for BANNER!

Amazingly similar to an earlier banner find....

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,264893.html

You got my banner vote. I am still amazed at their condition.
 
JuJu

 
   Great find !   In the high grade condition they are in - and considering the age , probably
   very desirable to collectors of early American militaria !  $$$$$$$$$      Argentium.

   Great find !   In the high grade condition they are in - and considering the age , probably
   very desirable to collectors of early American militaria !  $$$$$$$$$      Argentium.

  A few years back I seen a non dug 1812 collection run through Ebay and some got as high as $500 and change.  The ones posted here are technically dug (which collectors like) but aren't very far off non dug condition.  In fact, I have seen 1812 dug buttons that were nicer than non dug!

Wow!! Now that is my kind of cache!!! 

Congrats on an amazing and once in a lifetime find!!! Those buttons are fantastic! It's nice enough digging 1 good example of an officers button with most of the original gilt...I can't imagine digging a string of em'! I would be all over that site!!

My vote is in for banner, although I think you won't require it!

On a sidenote, the link posted in this thread with the other string of 1812 buttons is amazing too! WOW! Not sure how I missed that one!

   What a cache!!! I'll take yours over a cache of coins or gold ANYDAY  

Just think who held them last? What purpose they served? Why they were found in that spot?

That's why I'm in this hobby...the HISTORY!!!

Now comes the fun part. Trying to I.D. what they are specifically and where they might have originated from.

Putting a value on a find like that would be like putting a value on one of your children. I'd say as a whole mid five figures easy. However, tough to give up a once-in-a-lifetime find like that  

P.S. - What time are we meeting up in the morning for our hunt?   BANNER!!!

Very Impressive find!  And you won't have any trouble getting a few hundred dollars a piece for each of those buttons in my opinion!  They are in spectacular condition and

I don't know about other regions, but here in Virginia, those period buttons are very collectable   In fact, I've dug quite a few War of 1812 era buttons

throughout the years here in Virginia and I've never come across this particular type.  This is a terrific and beautiful find and definitely deserves a Banner vote from me!!!!    CONGRATS

Awesome!  Banner!

Amazingly similar to an earlier banner find....

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,264893.html

thanks Marc, that was the one I was thinking about

Great find!!!!

When I first read this I thought it was a joke My old hunting partner found an almost identical cache with the buttons still on the string.. Great find, you topped my entire 1812 total in one hole  Whether you decide to sell or hold on to those guys, I think you'll be happy .. btw, banner

Thank you, i thought I was having serious deja vu, I knew I had seen a similar photo.
Sweet, sweet, find.
Carl

Don't know if you will ever find another piece of history like that again.  My heart would have stopped if I found those.  It almost did just looking at the pictures.
CONGRATS and BANNER!!

this is going banner.  Great find

I'm not even going to vote. It will have made it before I get the chance. Spectacular!

Way to go on the buttons, Banner worthy for sure! 

WOW!

Wow - look at the condition of those buttons!          

Without a doubt this will be at the top soon.     

Congrats!

Wow, Congratulations! That is one amazing find. And their condition looks superb. Banner vote for sure. 

Amazingly similar to an earlier banner find....

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,264893.html

thanks Marc, that was the one I was thinking about

Definitely banner material.  I was surprised the above mentioned post was not mentioned sooner. 

I have never seen any other types of strung military buttons dug, yet there are two other finds referenced in this post.  I wonder if these are examples of button shipments that never made it to their destinations.  If so, I wonder what the relationship is.  Two were found in the southern states, and now one in New England.  Why not other era buttons?  Is anyone aware of strung buttons from other eras?

Absof------lutely awesome find!  You already have my banner vote.  All I can say at this point is "wow".

Yes, the guy who found the other string is in my hunt club (Anthony) and it was a very impressive find....

Amazingly similar to an earlier banner find....

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,264893.html

thanks Marc, that was the one I was thinking about

Definitely banner material.  I was surprised the above mentioned post was not mentioned sooner. 

I have never seen any other types of strung military buttons dug, yet there are two other finds referenced in this post.  I wonder if these are examples of button shipments that never made it to their destinations.  If so, I wonder what the relationship is.  Two were found in the southern states, and now one in New England.  Why not other era buttons?  Is anyone aware of strung buttons from other eras?

That is a very good question to ask.  It well might be that one is More likely to find 1812 buttons in a "cache" than other eras due to how they were packaged, shipped, or sent to their recipients.  I would imagine that some button collectors might be curious as to how buttons were distributed and who might've been the person charged with distributing them to the individual members of a regiment.  Finds like these might help us answer such questions.

This is a no-brainer Banner Find.  And of course, my nomination is sent.  

Great job cleaning the buttons--and congratulations in advance on your spot on the Finds Banner.  



Regards,



Buckleboy

That's the find of a lifetime

Absolute fantastic find  those buttons are in exceptional shape save that string as part of the find ,mount those buttons in a wall display who cares what they are worth its History to show and keep .Grasshopper are you from the Virginia area also ? same as the 2009 find area .I vote Banner!!! a no brainier Great find  Dd60

Why hasn't this made banner yet? 

WoW DuDe ThAt Is SwEeT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ThErE sO cLeAn AnD sHiNy..................... I VoTe B.A.N.N.E.R

I still can't get over the condition of these!

Oh My God!!!

Those are some beautiful Buttons  !

HH

Greg

Detecting rocks!!! BANNER!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
    Concerning the fact that these were found strung on cord or twine (likely hemp) ,
    I think it's highly likely that the purveyors of the buttons (the sellers not the manufacturers )
    would have filled the order and sent them out on the cord , and wrapped in a package of
    leather or linen or burlap or some other textile (perhaps paper).     Argentium.

Wow what a find of a lifetime...only could imagine finding something like that....

See this yesterday quickly and not on the banner yet??  well see if this one helps...my VOTE for BANNER is in!

All's I can say is BANNER all the way!!!!!!!!!! Great Save's 

Please do the rest of the metal detecting world a favor and write a good story about the hunt,  and get it published.   I had a dream one about finding a cache of buttons like that.   

AMAAAAAAZING !!!
                     Looks like they are gonna clean up Nice !!
           imagine they are 'new' replacement extras for Uniform,
                as so, pristine.        awesome find & My Banner vote!

Nice buttons . I dont know nothing of 1812 war but these are very beautiful indeed. I vote for banner!

Spectacular

you got my banner vote  those things are stunning , its amazing how beautiful they turned out with just a lil effort . Almost makes you wonder if there was a seamstress or the male version in the unit or if as a soldier you could get a handful to fix your own uniform hence why their all on a string. Once again AWSOME find congrats 

What else can you say other than WOW.

Banner for sure !!!

Congrats...

Brian in MA

 I had to look at this again.....Just found a new desktop screensaver from the third pic down 

Amazingly similar to an earlier banner find....

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,264893.html

Intresting

HOLY COW!  Those are beautiful!

Banner. Those are beautiful!!!!

Congrats on making the banner!!!

Amazing find.  Congrats on the banner.

Congrats on a well deserved banner spot!

Congrats on the Banner  grasshopper ..   These past few months  seems to be the , summer of buttons,  on this forum    16 on a string  is  kRaZy   and worth some $$    military buttons are exciting finds ..one or even two is a nice day .. Sixteen is something else ,  and you dug quality and quantity . Great job !!

Amazingly similar to an earlier banner find....

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,264893.html

And did you notice the dates on these finds, 8-10-09 and 8-7-10 !!
That is so cool !!
Congrats on that spectacular cache and on making the banner !!!

That right there is the best find I have ever seen on here,and I have been here a while!UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

        Congrats on a once in a lifetime historical discovery and making a well deserved Banner. That's the reason we are all out there in the heat, cold, and drizzle to dig finds like you just recovered. HH, Quindy.

super great find. you made my day. I'm researching them noe.-bob

That's Awesome!!  Absolutely!!

Museum-quality find  

Amazingly similar to an earlier banner find....

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,264893.html

And did you notice the dates on these finds, 8-10-09 and 8-7-10 !!
That is so cool !!
Congrats on that spectacular cache and on making the banner !!!

I saw the banner picture before I openned the post and thought it was a glitch that posted the old story.  Pretty cool.

BTW, Congrats on an awesome find and the banner.

NJ

That's Awesome!!  Absolutely!!

Congrats on truly an amazing find and on making the banner! 

Looks like you have a new avatar picture!

IM

When I first read this I thought it was a joke My old hunting partner found an almost identical cache with the buttons still on the string.. Great find, you topped my entire 1812 total in one hole  Whether you decide to sell or hold on to those guys, I think you'll be happy .. btw, banner

I remember that now,I didnt realize they were the same time frame though.Still incredible find!!!!

HOLY SCHNIKES!!..Thats an Amazing Find 

WoW Thats Amazing

Awesome finds!! Very cool!! Congratulations!!

What an AMAZING find!!! 

I wonder if civilian seamstresses were contracted by the Government to do uniform construction and or repairs?

Thanks for posting.....bottlebum

Wow, what a find you have there!  I know exactly how you felt pulling those out, as I too pulled the cache last summer.  Those are incredible, and you did a great job cleaning them up. 

It looks like our two finds might open up a whole new facet of research into a great and little known period of American History - the manufacture and distribution of buttons and other uniform pieces during the War of 1812. 

If you decide to sell them, let me know how you do with it.  I still have my cache and I am interested in selling them.

Congratulations!
Anthony

Great finds, that makes it worth hunting in this heat. Congrats

Amazing find!! Those buttons are spectacular!  I love the buttons of the War of 1812 era   

  I think he has passed out. Great banner and an inspiration to all of us. Look forward to the rest of the story.
HH
TnMtns

Sweet find!!! Finding one would have been sweet enough but finding a whole big handful of em is fantastic!!!! Congrats!!! 

GREAT FIND!  I've found 2 button caches but they where nothing like these just ww1 era Great seal military buttons and the other was an 1860's P&R RR button cache and I only found 6 in one and 4 in the other.

My wife tells me that when she was a child you bought buttons on a cardboard card with string through the loops. When you pulled the string off, the buttons just fell off the card. Perhaps a soldier had been reassigned to the 27th and somehow lost his buttons out of his kit before he had a chance to get them sewn on.  Isn't imagination a wonderful thing?

Tom

Amazing find!!! Congrats 

Nice find I'm from the lace Champlain area I find 1812buttons and Quakers buttons I find Carlos and found 8realm 1792 nice finds

   That is one amazing find indeed....With the string still attached is amzing. I have just one question, did you have this article in Western & Eastern treasure or Lost treasure a short time ago.....I remember reading about it in an article somewhere......Still a great find. 

   That is one amazing find indeed....With the string still attached is amzing. I have just one question, did you have this article in Western & Eastern treasure or Lost treasure a short time ago.....I remember reading about it in an article somewhere......Still a great find. 

thanks...and no i didn't, just found them about a week ago! but if you look earlier in this thread there was a similar find with war of 1812 buttons on a string in VA. that might be the one you saw.

Great, Great Group of War of 1812 buttons.  Congratulations!!!

I found one a few years ago, here in Ohio.  It is Sterling Silver and said to be an Officers button.  It is one of my most treasured finds. 

 Those things are Gorgeous !!!!!   

   _____  silvestor  _____

Fantastic find.  Would this be the 21st Regiment of Infantry - Massachusetts?

     I had to post on it again.....great find.