Ridgeway Civil War Archive Buttons from Virginia, two piece state seal buttons

Confederate Adjutant General button	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics
	This page updated March 05, 2008

The Ridgeway Civil War Archive
Buttons from Virginia, two piece state seal buttons
(generally 1830 & later, VA4 to VA16)

This is a sampling of relics collected by Harry Ridgeway over the years. This archive record is for educational purposes only. Some of the relics listed may be on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester Virginia, some are no longer owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to the separate sales catalog for items that are currently offered.

All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission. This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

B4420 Virginia state seal button (22.5mm)
B4420.jpg (35306 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "CANFIELD & BROTHER / * BALTIMORE * " rmdc on a stippled field, Scovill manufactured 1850's, (Canfield15)
Two piece low convex coat button.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert VA4, Tice VA206A2

B5065 Virginia state seal button (22.5mm)
B5065A.JPG (53091 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "CANFIELD & BROTHER / * BALTIMORE * " rmdc on a stippled field, Scovill manufactured 1850's, (Canfield15)
Two piece low convex coat button.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful silvered nondug button
Ref: Albert VA4, Tice VA206A2

B4421 Virginia state seal button (22.2mm)
B4421.jpg (40289 bytes)
Depicts Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "W. H. HORSTMAN (sic) & CO / (dot) NEW YORK (dot) " dm between two rings of dots, maker not known, ca 1840's or 1850's (HorstmannWH10)
Two piece low convex coat button, silvered copper face brass back.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful silvered nondug button face, back is gilded
Ref: Albert VA4, Tice VA206A4

B3782 Virginia state seal button (22.4mm)
B3782.jpg (32829 bytes)
Depicts state seal of Virginia, Virtus with sword and spear up.
Backmark: "W. H. HORSTMANN & SONS / (dot) PHILA (dot) " rmdc on a stippled field, Scovill manufacture 1845 - 1860 (HorstmannS01)
Two piece low convex coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA4, Tice VA206A6

B4422 Virginia state seal button (22.5mm)
B4422.jpg (42060 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "WM. H. SMITH & CO / * NEW - YORK * " rmdc on a stippled field, Scovill manufacture 1840 - 1858 (SmithWH04)
Two part low convex coat button, copper face is silvered, back is brass.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful silvered nondug button
Ref: Albert VA4, Tice VA206A7

B4423 Virginia state seal button (22.5mm)
B4423.jpg (40267 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "WM. H. SMITH & CO / * NEW - YORK * " rmdc on a stippled field, Scovill manufacture 1840 - 1858 (SmithWH04)
Two part low convex coat button, face is gilded, front and back are brass.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert VA4, Tice VA206A7

B4424 Virginia state seal button (22.3 mm)
B4424.jpg (36284 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "SCOVILLS & CO / (dot) WATERBURY (dot) " dm, two outer and two inner rings, concave back resembles a one piece button but it is two piece button, ca 1840's (ScovillC24)
Two part button, unusual construction, back is thick coin style, but with a concave shape, skin is thin and fitted flush over the back, this low convex button resembles a one piece but it is two piece.
Stand up shank intact, nondug button with a small hole.
Ref: Albert VA4, Tice VA206A9

B4425 Virginia state seal low convex silvered button (22 mm)
B4425.jpg (40377 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: YOUNG. SMITH & CO / (graphic) New (dot) York (graphic) " dm between one outer and two inner rings of dots, Scovill made 1830's or 1840's (Young23)
Two piece low convex coat button. Copper face is silvered, brass back.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful silvered nondug button
Ref: Albert VA5, Tice VA209A2

B5067 Virginia state seal low convex silvered button (22 mm)
B5067A.JPG (45489 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: YOUNG. SMITH & CO / (graphic) New (dot) York (graphic) " dm between one outer and two inner rings of dots, Scovill made 1830's or 1840's (Young23)
Two piece low convex coat button.
Stand up shank intact, nondug button may not have been gilded.
Ref: AlbertVA5, Tice VA209A2

B4426 Virginia state seal button (22.2mm)
B4426.jpg (33130 bytes)
Virginia state seal, sword up, unusual depiction of Virtus.
Backmark: "G. FLOYD & CO / (dot) (graphic) (dot) SUPERFINE (dot) (graphic) (dot)" dm outer and three inner solid rings, probably manufactured by Scovill ca 1840's (Floyd01)
Two part medium convex coat button, Copper face is silvered, back is brass.
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA6, Tice VA212A1

B4427 Virginia state seal button, (22.2mm)
B4427.jpg (30911 bytes)
Depicts Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "MITCHELL & TYLER / (dot) RICHMOND. Va. " rmdc on a stippled field, Scovill manufactured 1850's, (Mitchell02)
Two piece high convex coat button.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert VA7, Tice VA215A1

B5068 Virginia state seal button, (22.2mm)
B5068A.JPG (37346 bytes)
Depicts Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "MITCHELL & TYLER / (dot) RICHMOND. Va. " rmdc on a stippled field, Scovill manufactured 1850's, (Mitchell02)
Two piece high convex coat button.
Stand up shank intact, nondug button, gilding shows wear from use.
Ref: Albert VA7, Tice VA215A1

B4428 Virginia state seal button (22.3mm)
B4428.jpg (34964 bytes)
Virginia state sea, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "SCHUYLER. H & G. / NEW - YORK. " rmdc stippled channel, Scovill manufacture 1850's (Schuyler14)
Two part high convex coat button.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert VA7, Tice VA215A2

B4429 Virginia state seal button (22.5mm)
B4429.jpg (35014 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "SCOVILLS & CO / : WATERBURY :" rmdc on a stippled background, ca 1840's & 1850's. (ScovillC08)
Two part high convex coat button.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful nondug button
Ref: Albert VA7, Tice VA215A3

B4430 Virginia state seal button (22.2mm)
B4430.jpg (33028 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "SCOVILL. MG. CO / : WATERBURY : " rmdc on a stippled
field, ca 1850's (ScovillM04)
Two part high convex coat button.
Shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert VA7, Tice VA215A4

B4431 Virginia state seal button, (22.5mm)
B4431.jpg (31884 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "SCOVILL. MFG. CO. / * WATERBURY. * " rmdc on stippled background, ca 1850's. (ScovillM12)
Two part high convex coat button.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful gilded nondug button
Ref: Albert VA7, Tice VA215A5

B4432 Virginia state seal button (21.7mm)
B4432.jpg (40128 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up, distinct pattern.
Backmark: "BENEDICT / (diamond) & BURNHAM (diamond) " dm between outer ring of stars, middle solid ring, inner solid ring on flat back ca 1834 - 1843 (BenedictB02)
Two part high convex coat button, copper face is silvered, flat copper back.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful silvered nondug button
Ref: Albert VA8, Tice VA218A1

B3989 Virginia state seal button (21.9mm)

Backmark: "SCOVILLS & CO / WATERBURY." rmdc on stippled channel.
Stand up shank intact, some gilding, attractive dug button
Recovered: central Virginia
Ref: Albert VA9, Tice VA219A2

B4433 Virginia state seal button (21.9mm)
B4433.jpg (37217 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword up.
Backmark: "WM. H. SMITH & CO / (dot) NEW - YORK (dot) " rmdc on a stippled field, Scovill manufactured 1840's or 1850's (SmithWH06)
Two piece high convex coat button, silvered copper face, brass back.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful silvered nondug button
Ref: Albert VA9, Tice VA219A3

B4434 Virginia state seal "Cavalier" button (22mm)
B4434.jpg (38431 bytes)
One of the rarest of the Virginia buttons, unique design, Virtus resembles a "Cavalier".
Backmark: "SCOVILLS / (dot) WATERBURY (dot) " dm between solid rings, outer ring of rays, flat back, ca 1830's (Scovill22)
Two piece convex coat button, silvered copper face, brass flat back.
Stand up shank intact, beautiful silvered nondug button
Ref: Albert VA10, Tice VA220A1

B4435 Virginia state seal button (22.3mm)
B4435.jpg (34222 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword down.
Backmark: "CANFIELD BRO & CO. / (dot) BALTIMOR (sic) (dot)" dm between outer solid ring, inner ring of dots, stamping is sloppy, probably Steele & Johnson manufacture ca 1850's (Canfield07)
Two piece coat button.
Shank intact glued for reinforcement, attractive nondug button, scarce mark.
Ref: Albert VA12, Tice VA221A1

B5069 Virginia state seal button (22.3mm)
B5069A.JPG (41461 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword down.
Backmark: "CANFIELD BRO & CO. / (dot) BALTIMOR (sic) (dot)" dm between outer solid ring, inner ring of dots, stamping is sloppy, probably Steele & Johnson manufacture ca 1850's (Canfield07)
Two piece coat button.
Stand up shank intact, nondug button, gilding shows wear from use.
Ref: Albert VA12, Tice VA221A1

B4436 Virginia state seal button (22.5mm)
B4436.jpg (29203 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword down.
Backmark: "CANFIELD BRO & CO / (dot) BALTIMORE (dot) " rmdc, stippled channel, Scovill manufactured 1850's (Canfield05)
Two piece coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA13, Tice VA222A1

B4437 Virginia state seal button (22.3mm)
B4437.jpg (30918 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword down.
Backmark: "KENT. PAINE & CO. / RICHMOND * (dot) * (dot) * " stars obliterate "VA", rmdc stippled channel, Scovill manufacture, (Kent01)
Two piece coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA13, Tice VA222A3

B4438 Virginia state seal button (22.5mm)
B4438.jpg (32570 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword down.
Backmark: "WM H. SMITH & CO. / NEW YORK. " rmdc stippled
channel, Scovill manufacture 1850's, (SmithWH07)
Two piece coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA13, Tice VA222A9

B3987 Virginia state seal button (22.5mm)

Backmark: blank back with a channel rmdc, this was generic backmark
for Scovill, and is a scarce backmark!
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button, top grade.
Ref: Albert VA13, Tice VA222A10

B5071 Virginia state seal button (14.7mm)
B5071A.JPG (35425 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword down.
Blank back, with a single depressed ring near the rim, depression around the shank is from assembly, maker not known, ca 1860's (BlankNorth08As)
Two piece sleeve or hat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive silvered nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA13, Tice VA222As8

B4439 Virginia state seal button (22mm)
B4439.jpg (30242 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus in relaxed stand, somewhat crude design.
Backmark: "W. H. HORSTMANN & SONS / (dot) PHI (dot) " rmdc on a stippled channel, probably manufactured by Steele & Johnson ca 1850's (HorstmannS06)
Two part coat button, copper face brass back.
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.
Ref: Albert not listed, Tice VA223A1

B5072 Virginia state seal button (20.8mm)
B5072A.JPG (34263 bytes)
Depicts state seal of Virginia, Virtus somewhat relaxed
Backmark: "W. H. HORSTMANN & . SONS / (dot) PHI (dot) " rmdc probably made by Steele & Johnson, 1850's, (HorstmannS11)
Two piece coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA14, Tice Va226A1

B4440 Virginia state seal button (20.8mm)
B4440.jpg (32189 bytes)
Depicts state seal of Virginia, Virtus somewhat relaxed
Backmark: "W. H HORSTMANN & SONS / (dot) PHI (dot) " rmdc shallow channel plain background, outer solid ring gives the appearance of a double ring, probably made by Steele & Johnson, 1850's, (HorstmannS10)
Two piece coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA14, Tice Va226A1

B5073 Virginia state seal button (14.7mm)
B5073A.JPG (32069 bytes)
Depicts state seal of Virginia, Virtus somewhat relaxed
Backmark: "EXTRA / * QUALITY * " dm, very sloppy die from Steele & Johnson ca 1860 (ExtraQ05As)
Two piece sleeve or hat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA14, Tice Va226As2

B4441 Virginia state seal button (21mm)
B4441.jpg (30082 bytes)
Virginia state seal, a somewhat bowlegged Virtus with sword down.
Backmark: "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / (dot) NY (dot)" dm between two solid rings, inner ring of rays, rays are longer, Steele & Johnson produced ca 1860 (HorstmannA10 var)
Two part coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA15, Tice VA229A1

B4442 Virginia state seal button (21.5mm)
B4442.jpg (34983 bytes)
Virginia state seal, Virtus with sword down.
Backmark: "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / (dot) NY (dot)" dm between two solid rings, inner ring of rays, rays are longer, Steele & Johnson produced ca 1860 (HorstmannA10 var)
Two piece coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA15, Tice VA229B1

B5075 Virginia state seal button (21mm)
B5075A.JPG (33202 bytes)
Virginia state seal, a somewhat bowlegged Virtus with sword down.
Backmark: "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / (dot) NY (dot)" rmdc Steele & Johnson produced ca 1860 (HorstmannA11)
Two part coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive silvered nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA15, Tice VA229B2

B4443 Virginia state seal button (22.5mm)
B4443.jpg (33771 bytes)
This is Virginia state seal with a bow legged Virtus!
Backmark: "W. G. MINTZER. / PHILD.. " dm, inner ring of dots, outer solid ring, Steele & Johnson ca 1860 (Mintzer08)
Two part coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA16, Tice VA230A2

B4851 Virginia state seal button (22.5mm)
B4851.jpg (39263 bytes)
This is Virginia state seal with a bow legged Virtus!
Backmark: "W. G. MINTZER. / PHILD.. " dm, inner ring of dots, outer solid ring, Steele & Johnson ca 1860 (Mintzer08)
Two part coat button, back is silvered
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA16, Tice VA230A2

B4444 Virginia state seal button (21mm)
B4444.jpg (31591 bytes)
This is Virginia state seal with a bow legged Virtus!
Backmark: blank with depressed ring around the shank, made by Mintzer, may have been intended for the smuggling trade. (BlankNorth05)
Two part coat button.
Stand up shank intact, attractive gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA16, Tice VA230A4

B5077 Virginia state seal button (14.3mm)

This is Virginia state seal with a bow legged Virtus!
Backmark: "W. G. MINTZER / (dot) PHILD.. " dm, probably made by Steele & Johnson ca 1860 (Mintzer01As)
Two part sleeve or hat button.
Stand up shank intact, gilded nondug button.
Ref: Albert VA16, Tice VA230As3

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