I really hate myself today

[ChrisinCT]

I found a beautiful button today. I couldn't make out the fine daeails dut to dirt and crud so in my stupidity I cleaned it using naval jelly and a soft toothbrush but didn't realize the base metal was copper which the jelly etched the heck of of the button .

Being I basically ruined what was a beautiful button I lightly brushed it with scotch barite which helped bring back some of the details.

I feel sick to my stomach over this and promise it will never happen again.

I'm hoping someone might be able to identify what I had found?

It is a flat button the maasures 7/8. The base metal is copper I believe it was plated. There is still a little bit of plating on the back.

The top front has a eagle spread winged with head pointing down holding a banner . Within the banner are letters or a word but can't make all of it out clearly.

The first letter is possibly an E or a K the rest are SSAVON. There may or may not be another letter afterwards but can't tell.

To the right of the banner emitting from the buttons edge are sun rays that spread out.

Across the entire bottom of the button there is a pattern that I believe resembles waves.

Sitting either on the water or in it is an object I think might be a boat but its really hard to tell for sure.

The back has markings but all I can make out are the following last four letters of a word which are RTIN.

Any ideas?..

[Tony Two-Cent]

Well, I don't know what it looked like before but it's still a terrific find. It looks colonial to my untrained eye.

It looks like it says KSSATON on the banner to me, but that doesn't make any sense. Or perhaps you're right about it being a V instread of a T which would make it KSSAVON.

Anyway, whatever it says it's a really cool find!

[OxShoeDrew]

Nice find, what's the shank like? Any circles on back? :thinkingabout:

[ChrisinCT]

Yes there are two circles with the writing within. The shank was missing.

[del]

the words in the banner says Essayons and is an U.S. Army engineers button , they have used that design since 1840 .heres a similar designed one but its a two-piece as yours is a one.

Dan

[ChrisinCT]

Thanks Del, I had a feeling you would know what it is.

[del]

no problem Chris , it looks like an older type button . i rarely use naval jelly for that reason , it strips the crud off very well and sometimes a few layers of metal as well. most of my buttons i use diluted CLR (Calcium ,Lime , Rust) after i first just wash the item well to see what kind of condition it is . the CLR can do the same to your button straight out of the bottle so i usually mix it with water depending on the button's metal composition.

Dan

[ChrisinCT]

The sad part is the front was in amazing condition. The back was cruddy.

I should have just used a brush and water and it would have been fine.

Live and learn.

[Sal66]

OK, I'm a little confused, as usual lol . When you say naval jelly is that the same as Vaseline ? Secondly, what does that word mean ? Thirdly, Dan isn't CLR even diluted more acidic ? I tried it diluted years ago and ruined several coins that's why I just star with dishsoap first and then work my way up.It doesn't matter if it's a Coin or a Relic. I guess the best thing to do like experts say is do nothing. As much as we want to make our finds look better, most of the time it's better to just do nothing. There are people like Dan who have mastered the art of cleaning finds but I've known him a long time and it's taken him a long time to get it right . Some can do it and some will mess up their coin or relic all the time. It takes a lot of years of practice on items that don't mean much to get it right . Like I said, I use just soap and water and I've been Detecting on and off for 11 years.