Civil War Trouser Button Metal Type?

[LightNing]

I found what looks like a Civil War trouser button, with the four holes in it. I've read that these could be stamped tin or lead. How can I tell if it's stamped tin or lead, and if it's authentic from that era or a modern day replica?

Thanks.

 

[Cajuncoinhunter]

Hey
Post a picture of the front and back.
Someone will probably be able to ID it.

CCH

 

[LightNing]

Thanks CCH.

Here are the pictures.

 

[Cajuncoinhunter]

Looks like a standard underwear button ... possibly from the CW period. If you find any other relics/bullets/buttons etc from the CW in that area then that would maybe justify it. Nice little find. I'd go back and give that area another pass with my detector. CCH

 

[umrgolf]

Almost all the tin buttons like that will come out rusty. Yours looks like some type of pewter composition? Lead would normally turn white, was it in the water?

 

[LightNing]

Thanks CCH. I did find a thin copper coin about the size of a quarter in the same area, badly worn and difficult to read. I posted it on the Whatzit forum, and was told it may be an 1837 half-cent token, so I guess it's worth a few more passes with the detector.

 

[LightNing]

thanks for that explanation umrgolf. It was pulled from dirt, not from the water. It was near a tree, but I don't think the tree was that old. It was probably down about 6" or so.