~ Diplomatic Service ~
In the early years, federal and state diplomatic attaché personal were known to dress in military costumes when visiting field staff, campsites, encampments, or battlefields. Research has also indicated that some of these buttons were used by military personal as well. Patterns 1-4, and 6-10 have been positively identified from excavation of battlefields to be used by military personal. OD 11 has been identified as being used by Artillery officers, and OD 5 with a small anchor on the shield, OD 25, and 26 have proven to be used by the Navy. Below is a modest list of early patterns from the 1800’s.
1790-1802 U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service
Color: A Golden Brass with Green Encrustations.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Raised Design, Gilded Brass.
Size: 25mm.
Albert’s Number: OD 1: RV 100
Variation: Spread Wing Eagle / Wreath in it’s Beak / United States of America.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example, Strong Planchet Casting, Good High Relief Pattern.
Isabela’s Notes: This rare button depicts a Spread Wing Eagle standing on an Olive Branch with a Wreath in it’s Beak. The outside legend reads,”UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” encircling. The high relief pattern is set on a flat field with a plain edge.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a loop shank. The shank is original, straight, and intact. *CARTER*LOMBARD STREET rm.
1797-1801 U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service To Naval Department.
Color: A Seaweed Brown.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Impressed Design, Gilt Brass.
Size: 23mm.
Albert’s Number: Unlisted Di Variant: RV 100
Variation: Federal Style Eagle / Oval Shield / Small Fouled Anchor / Ray Pattern / 16 Six Pointed Stars Circling.
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example, Strong Planchet Casting, Strong Impressed Pattern.
Isabela’s Notes: This rare button depicts a Federal Style Spread Eagle with a vertical Oval Shield under it’s left wing. Within the shield is a Small Fouled Anchor with a rope coming off the top rings right hand side. The rope goes under the stock, under the shaft and left fluke, and hangs below the crown. In the eagles left talon is a small bundle of Three Arrows, and in it’s right talon is an Olive Branch. Behind the eagles head is a Ray Pattern to represent a Morning Glory. There are 16 Six Pointed Stars circling the outside edge. The impressed pattern is set on a flat field with a plain edge.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a flat one-piece button with a loop shank. The shank is reportedly original, straight, and intact.
1798-1802 U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service
Color: A Golden Green.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Raised Design, Gilt Brass.
Size: 25mm.
Albert’s Number: OD 2-A: RV 50
Variation: Federal Spread Eagle / Lined Shield / 13 Stripes / Thirteen Arrows / E. Pluribus Unum / 16 Six-Pointed Asterisk Stars Circling.
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example, Strong Planchet Casting, Strong High Relief Pattern.
Robert’s Notes: This rare button depicts a Federal Spread Eagle with a lined Shield on it’s chest. Within the shield there are 13 Stripes to represent the states that joined the union. In the Eagle’s left talon is a Bundle of Thirteen Arrows, and in it’s right talon is a Long Stem Olive Branch. There is a Ribbon in the Eagle’s Beak with the inscription, “E Pluribus Unum” which means out of many one. Circling the outside edge is 16 Six Pointed Asterisk Type Stars. The high relief pattern is set on a plain field with a plain edge.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a loop shank. The shank is original, straight, and intact. CARTER* LOMBARD STREET* 2 rm rings.
1802-10 U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service
Color: A Golden Brown.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Raised Design, Gilt Brass.
Size: 25mm.
Albert’s Number: OD 5-B: RV 75
Variation: Federal Tripple Line Shield / Bundle of Arrows / Long Stem Olive Branch, E Pluribus Unum / 17 Six Pointed Asterisk Type Stars.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example, Good Planchet Casting, Good High Relief Pattern.
Isabela’s Notes: There appears to be two die variants for this button. One with a small anchor on it’s shield, and one without. This diplomatic button depicts a version of the Great Seal of the US. The spread eagle has a Federal Triple Lined Shield on it’s chest. In the Eagle’s left talon is a Bundle of Arrows, and in it’s right talon is a Long Stem Olive Branch. Encircling the eagle’s head is the raised motto, “E Pluribus Unum” which means out of many is one. There is also 17 Six Pointed Asterisk Type Stars in the field around the eagle’s head. This high relief pattern is set on a flat field with a plain edge.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a flat one-piece button with a loop shank. No back mark.
1800’s U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service
Color: A Golden Brass.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece Gilded Brass.
Size: 25mm.
Albert’s Number: OD 6: RV 50
Variation: 17 Stars.
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example, Exceptional Planchet Casting, Exceptional Bas-Relief Pattern.
Isabela’s Notes:
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a loop shank. The shank is original, straight, and intact.
1800-20’s U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service
Color: An Olive Gilt Brown.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Raised Design, Gilt Brass.
Size: 23mm.
Albert’s: OD 10: RV:50
Variation:
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example, Exceptional Planchet Casting, Exceptional High Relief Pattern.
Isabela’s Notes:
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a loop shank. The shank is original straight and intact. AM PEASLEY BOSTON
Pre-1820’s U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service (1808-1817)
Color: A Golden Brown.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece Silver Plated Copper.
Size: 22mm.
Albert’s Number: OD11: RV 40
Variation: Forked Lightening.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example, Good Planchet Casting, Good Bas-Relief Pattern.
Isabela’s Notes:
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a loop shank.
Debra the buttons are brass , the eagle with wreath button has two back marks can’t make out original b/m but the top b/m is armitage in Albert’s he tells that in 1817 these buttons were to be reused thus the armitage b/m re-strike button was probably old stock that never got silver plated thus could be as early as 1808 with the Armitage re-strike but that is just my opinion. The other button has a Fullerton & Gragin b/m have not been able to find this button in any books though it does have the look of a OD button tice list this back mark as sometime in the first to third part of 1800. J Baldwin.~
Pre-1820’s U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service
Color: A Golden Brown.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece Gilded Brass.
Size: 22mm.
Albert’s Number: OD11: RV 40
Variation: Forked Lightening.
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example, Good Planchet Casting, Good Bas-Relief Pattern.
Isabela’s Notes:
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a loop shank.
The J. Baldwin Collection.
1800-20’s U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service
Color: A Golden Brown.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece Gilded Brass.
Size: 25mm.
Albert’s Number: Unlisted.
Variation: U.S. Army General Service Pattern
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example, Exceptional Planchet Casting, Exceptional Bas-Relief Pattern.
Isabela’s Notes: Very similar to both OD 7 & OD 9.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a loop shank. The shank is original straight and intact. FULLERTON & CKAGIN*BOSTON double dm ring
The J. Baldwin Collection.
1800-20’s U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service
Color: A Golden Brown.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece Gilded Brass.
Size: 25mm.
Albert’s OD 17: RV 20
Variation: U.S. Army General Service Pattern
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example, Exceptional Planchet Casting, Exceptional Bas-Relief Pattern.
Isabela’s Notes:
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a loop shank. The shank is original straight and intact.
1800-20’s U.S. Official, Diplomatic Service
Color: A Silvery Grey with Red Undertones.
Metal: Flat, 2-Piece, Raised Design, Silver Plated.
Size: 34mm.
Albert’s: OD 27: RV 75
Variation:
Present Condition: A Non Excavated Example, Exceptional Planchet Casting, Exceptional High Relief Pattern.
Isabela’s Notes:
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a two-piece button with a loop shank. The shank is original straight and intact.