Surprise suprise !!

[MIKE54]

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).

[OxShoeDrew]

: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.

[Longhair]

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!!

[OxShoeDrew]

Quick search....number thirteen may be your button. http://kirkmitchell.tripod.com/CobbGW/GWIBM.pdf
Interesting how they may have left the GW out of the center because they were used during his second term. They wanted to use them with the next president too.

[coinnut]

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:

[aloldstuff]

Huge :congrats:on a great find. I'll take that over a wheat any day. It will be the highlight of your display.

[del]

a very uncommon variety type found in Connecticut Mike , congrats on that great surprise :perfect10:

[Lodge Scent]

Wow! That's a heck of a save !

[Cheap Thrills]

Sweet find , congrats you are now one of a small elite group .

[Timewarpdigger]

Congrats on a great find. Awesome to see such a huge piece of history. Safe & HH

[ODA 226]

DAMN that's nice!

[giant056]

Wow!!!!!!!!! what a fantastic discovery you made, congrats on a find rediscovered and a fantastic one at that!

:congrats:

[The Rebel]

WTG on an AWESOME find! Probably looks a lot better than what it did before, so

[The Rebel]

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.

I think I see it here

3648536486

[coinnut]

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

[Digger Don]

Very nice & rare find.
Congrats

[jkress]

Oh my........... :smitten:

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

Awesome post!!!

[lee]

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.

[MIKE54]

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 .

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

awesome save! welcome to the GW club!