Surprise suprise !!

MIKE54

MIKE54

New member
About 4 months ago I detected an old factory yard no more than a mile from my house. I had been there before and all I found were a few wheats and some clad. I had an hour to kill so I stopped there and hunted a little. All I found were a few clad coins and a crusty old button. There were no discernable markings on the button so I threw it into my bucket of dirty coins for eventual cleaning, which I finally got to this week. After tumbling them for awhile, I took them out and noticed the button. When I looked at it I noticed some lettering around the perimeter that said " LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT" with a wreath in the middle. Still didn't know what I had so I did some research and found out what it was. It's a circa 1789 George Washington inaugural button. If I knew that I definitely would not have cleaned it (crap) !!! I think it's pretty rare. If anybody can help me out on it's rarity and worth I would appreciate it. It's about 20 MM in diameter ( .780 of an inch).
 

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:shocked05::happy::yahoo:OH MY GOSH! Congratulations on a special find and interesting story! The guys will be able to give you more info on it.
 
If that is it's cleaned state, then you probably didn't hurt it too badly. That's a once in a lifetime find. Congratulations!!
 
The button is listed in Albert's Book as WI 17A or 17 B depending if it has a little star below the laurel wreath. It's listed as a rarity 5, but remember this book is 1976. R5's are defined as a know quantity of between 6-10 pcs. These days them numbers are not accurate. As a precaution I would down grade it to an R3 which is 26-50 pcs known. Only someone who deals in GW's could tell you how many they have seen documented. I'm also not sure which election it was. I thought it was the first but could be wrong on that one. Still a super find :yahoo:
 
a very uncommon variety type found in Connecticut Mike , congrats on that great surprise :perfect10:
 
Wow!!!!!!!!! what a fantastic discovery you made, congrats on a find rediscovered and a fantastic one at that!

:congrats:
 
You won't see a star because it is directly below where you have your star.....right in the pitted hole :lol: But there is an easier way. 17A has a star and is 20mm wide, 17B has no star and is 15 mm wide. Both still carry the same rarity rating
 
Oh my........... :smitten:

Congratulations on this incredible save Mike. This is a fantastic part of early American History!!! :notworthy:

Awesome post!!!
 
i see the star i think , looks a bit like a sun with rays yes ? looks like the back of an indian head penny head dress.
 
Lee,I looked long and hard at the button and I still couldn't tell. However, the "wreath only" variety is 15 MM wide while the wreath with star variety is 20 MM wide and this button measures 20MM .
 
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