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Thread: 74th French regiment pewter button

  1. #1

    74th French regiment pewter button

    I was poking around the edges one of my well pounded colonial sites and dug a button. Couldn't tell what it was out in the field but when I got home and started to clean it I started to get excited as a couple of numbers emerged. Best as I can tell it is a button from the French 74th Regiment. The French were in Newport for quite a while before heading down to Virginia and the Battle of Yorktown. Where I found the button is only a hard day's march from Newport. At this point I am just guessing.

    Name:  74th front 4.jpg
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    Name:  74th back.jpg
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    Here is a pic of one I found on line. This looks to be brass, mine is pewter.
    Name:  74th French.jpg
Views: 319
Size:  127.8 KB

    Any ID help from you button experts would be appreciated !

    Thanks,

    Jeff
    Last edited by Lodge Scent; 01-10-2016 at 12:20 PM.
    Oldest find: 5,000 year old copper spearhead
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  2. #2
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    very interesting button Jeff , can you post some better close ups of the front and reverse (better side view of the shank) , a 74th regiment served on both sides and I would like to inspect this a little more before i commit to a reply .

    Dan
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

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  3. #3
    Elite Member The Rebel's Avatar
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    Awesome!
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  4. #4
    Elite Member Digger_O'Dell's Avatar
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    Awesome find-can't wait to hear from the experts!
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  5. #5
    I like that button Very nice find
    Dig Colonial or Go Home

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  6. #6
    I love regimental buttons

  7. #7
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    Jeff , does yours have the 4 hole turret style shank or the 2 hole style , its difficult for me to see it clearly to tell ?? I'm sure Iron Patch can positively id this when he sees it .

    Quote Originally Posted by chief5709 View Post
    I love regimental buttons
    you and me both Brian
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

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  8. #8
    Dan, yeah sorry about the sucky pictures. It definitely has the 4 hole turret style. It also definitely has that same design element as the one shown in the example I found online. Thanks!
    Oldest find: 5,000 year old copper spearhead
    Oldest coin: 1699 William III halfpenny
    Purdiest coin: 1832 Capped Bust quarter
    Coolest find: USA button with blue threads still on shank

    "He who would search for pearls must dive below."

  9. #9
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lodge Scent View Post
    Dan, yeah sorry about the sucky pictures. It definitely has the 4 hole turret style. It also definitely has that same design element as the one shown in the example I found online. Thanks!
    Jeff , the only info i see is this ....

    Number 74 borne by Saintonge Regiment (yellow) from 1775-1776 , and 74th buttons found in North America are most likely from this unit.

    that was from Don Troiani's book military buttons of the American Revolution.
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

    XP Deus II , DFX ,TDI sl -

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  10. #10
    Incredible find!!!!

  11. #11
    That is very helpful Dan. I had been focused on the Bourbonnois regiments. The Saint Onge regiment was definitely involved in the Battle of Rhode Island. Very cool. I'll try and get some decent pics.
    Oldest find: 5,000 year old copper spearhead
    Oldest coin: 1699 William III halfpenny
    Purdiest coin: 1832 Capped Bust quarter
    Coolest find: USA button with blue threads still on shank

    "He who would search for pearls must dive below."

  12. #12
    Senior Member Isaac's Avatar
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    WOW Great find!!!!!!!!
    I <3 colonial relics!

  13. #13
    Junior Member Sam's Avatar
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    Wow! That is INCREDIBLE! Huge congrats!


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  14. #14
    Nice one! But don't sell yourself short because the link you provide is a button that dates later. Very different. A hunting buddy of mine dug a French 74th over a decade ago... was a nice one too. I've never found a Rev War period French, so is definitely on the want list.


    Your button might look pewter but it's not.

  15. #15
    Thanks everyone, it is an exciting find for me to say the least! Thanks for the info IP. Yeah I was looking hard at it the other day and was thinking it might be bronze or something similar. I couldn't find any pewter examples either.

    I have a USA button, now all I need to find is an British and a Hessian button and I'll have a complete set Well, I can dream about it anyway.
    Oldest find: 5,000 year old copper spearhead
    Oldest coin: 1699 William III halfpenny
    Purdiest coin: 1832 Capped Bust quarter
    Coolest find: USA button with blue threads still on shank

    "He who would search for pearls must dive below."

  16. #16
    Veteran Member BTV Digger's Avatar
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    Great find Jeff! Definitely will be one of your finds of the year for 2016.

    John
    Vermont relic hunting, one swing at a time.
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2...OLib30A/videos

  17. #17
    Holy cow! I missed a lot of stuff in January....my apologies
    That is a heck of a find, Jeff!! I'd like to talk to you about the location as I found a French 95th in our area and only conjecture as to why it would be here.
    On Instagram- oxshoedrew

  18. #18
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by OxShoeDrew View Post
    I'd like to talk to you about the location as I found a French 95th in our area.
    I 'd like to talk to you both about the locations , great find again Jeff and congrats on winning relic of the month !!
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

    XP Deus II , DFX ,TDI sl -

    Click here to view my finds album


  19. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by del View Post
    I 'd like to talk to you both about the locations ,
    well, within five miles or so
    On Instagram- oxshoedrew

  20. #20
    Found it in Fall River, gents.

    From what I've read, French troops marched from Boston and Newport through CT to join the battle in the Chesapeake area.
    Oldest find: 5,000 year old copper spearhead
    Oldest coin: 1699 William III halfpenny
    Purdiest coin: 1832 Capped Bust quarter
    Coolest find: USA button with blue threads still on shank

    "He who would search for pearls must dive below."

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