Some kind of old Button ?

EX-Terrafirma · Jan 6, 2009

I went detecting at the old Jupiter Creek gold diggings near Echunga South Australia on boxing day. These diggings date back to the 1860's, i did'nt find
any gold but i did find some kind of old copper button (my only find) & was
wondering if anyone has seen anything like this before. I don't know jack
about buttons.

It's three quarters of an inch in diameter & is slightly concaved, although
a little beat up & was kinda folded back on itself on two sides which i straightened out gently ( hence the patina loss on the sides ) to see what
the design was. Any ideas if the design is just some fancy affair or if it has
some kind of meaning? any info much appreciated.

this pic is its true color

this pic lightened a little to pick up detail missed in the first

the back

Thanks in advance
Cheers Mick

Krom · Jan 6, 2009

Are you sure it's a button, Ex-TF? There's no tell-tale signs of a loop... and there almost always is.
Could it be a very old form of Aussie money? Them dots look awfully tribal to me. Reminds me of the aborigine.
Whatever it is, it's old. That design was stamped with a hand-held die (more likely, a few dies).

EX-Terrafirma · Jan 7, 2009

Thanks for the reply Krom, to be honest i'm not 100% sure its a button, i
was just guessing it was by its size/shape, seemed logical at the time, now
i'm not so sure. Given the vast array of people/cultures these early gold
rushes attracted it could have come from anywhere. AFAIK our early
aussie money was english based & changed over to the australian form
around 1910 or so. The area it was found is a known Aboriginal area-
Battunga Country- so it is possible on that front. I guess it may remain a
mystery relic, i just wish you could do a google search by image as opposed
to key words to help narrow things down that you don't know the name of.

Thanks again, you,ve given me food for thought & i'll now try a different
research approach than that of buttons.

Cheers Mick

Doug · Jan 7, 2009

Mick,

Unusual find and it looks to be homemade?

Was going to say the same thing about lack of a fixing point on the rear.

Do you have any Aboriginal/local museum in the area?

The other alternative is TH magazine, Australian forum on ID of finds?

Doug (England)

Voriax · Jan 7, 2009

I kinda doubt aussie abos used buttons or coins...don't use even now afaik...

That may be a front part of a two-part button, so the loop section would've dropped off..or left in the original garment.

Voriax

simonthesearcher · Jan 8, 2009

Its the top part of a button,as Voriax explained.decorative button .My guess would be late 1800,s to early 1900,s

Krom · Jan 8, 2009

I've never known a buttonback to envelope the face part. It's always the other way around, I thought, but X-T's peice doesn't have the curled lip.
...but... I leave it to you & Voriax, STS. In my book, you guys are the bloodhounds of knowledge. :yes:

Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct) · Jan 8, 2009

Interesting design on it, whatever it is.

Some kind of old Button ?

EX-Terrafirma

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Krom

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EX-Terrafirma

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Doug

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Voriax

simonthesearcher

Krom

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Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct)

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