Small Size Washington Inaugural Buttons: Authenticity Concerns and Market Realities

What separates a treasure from a trap in the wild world of collecting? The recent frenzy over a mysterious small-size “Linked States” Washington inaugural button—hammering down at $2,575 despite glaring red flags—reveals how easily even seasoned collectors can get swept up in auction adrenaline. As someone who’s handled more Revolutionary War relics than a Williamsburg blacksmith, let me guide you through the minefield of evaluating these historic gems.

Washington Inaugural Buttons: America’s First Political Memorabilia

True 1789 Washington inaugural buttons aren’t just brass discs—they’re tangible fragments of our nation’s founding moment. Picture the scene: freshly minted citizens clutching these 34mm emblems bearing “LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT” in elegant script, the “UNITED STATES” legend (never “Linked States”) crisp beneath Washington’s name. With only low hundreds confirmed across 22 varieties, these buttons represent the holy grail for political memorabilia collectors. Their numismatic value isn’t just in metal, but in the sacred trust they carry from that Philadelphia spring.

The 1889 Centennial Curveball

Sharp-eyed collector @messydesk nailed it: the 1889 centennial spawned souvenirs that still trip up enthusiasts today. Unlike their delicate 18th-century cousins, these Victorian-era tributes shout their age through:

• Chunky planchets you could balance a teacup on
• Mechanical strikes that lack the hand-hammered soul of originals
• Blatant bragging rights with “CENTENNIAL OF INAUGURATION” legends

Yet our eBay enigma fits neither camp—a collectibility puzzle wrapped in historical mystery.

The Smoking Gun: That Troublesome Tiny Size

Let’s address the elephant in the auction room: at 23-24mm, this button’s smaller than a modern nickel. In three decades examining Washingtoniana, I’ve never held a period-correct specimen that could hide in a dollhouse. The manufacturing realities of 1789 make this as plausible as a powdered wig at a baseball game:

Why Colonial Craftsmen Couldn’t Shrink History

Creating revolutionary-era buttons demanded:

• Hand-cut dies sized for uniform military coats
• Forged brass thick enough to withstand daily wear
• Skilled hammer strikes leaving distinctive “strike” characteristics

The listing’s squashed “Linked States” legend screams modern transfer copying, not Paul Revere’s apprentice sweating over a chisel.

Side-by-Side: A Story Told in Metal

“Place them side by side and the truth sings louder than a fife and drum corps. The craftsmanship gap is staggering.”
– @messydesk

Comparing this pretender to authenticated pieces reveals:

• Lettering Luster: Originals boast depth that catches light like Franklin’s bifocals; the eBay imposter’s text looks stamped by tired machinery
• Edge Evidence: Authentic specimens show hand-filed edges with character, while this piece’s sterile trim belongs in a 20th-century factory
• Patina Poetry: Two centuries of honest oxidation create complex rainbows—not the “tea-stained” fakeness visible in the listing photos

The Price Paradox: When Hype Overpowers History

At first glance, $2,575 seems plausible next to Heritage’s $3,200 averages—but context is king. Let’s break down real market values:

Cold Hard Numbers Don’t Lie

• Mint Condition Originals: $4,600+ for specimens with documented provenance (CCNJ Auction 102)
• 1889 Centennial Pieces: $725 buys VF examples with perfect pedigrees (Stack’s Bowers)
• Modern Fakes: Collector forums overflow with these at $150—and they come with honest disclosures

The seller’s audacious $5,000 BIN listing for another questionable piece reveals either breathtaking ignorance or calculated deception.

Investment Realities: Passion vs. Profit

While genuine buttons consistently appreciate 7-9% annually, problematic pieces hemorrhage value faster than Continental dollars. Consider:

• Provenance Peril: No paper trail? Say goodbye to 80% of value
• Condition Catastrophes: Market punishes damage harshly—a cleaned original loses more eye appeal than a scratched Liberty Bell
• Liquidity Limbo: Major houses won’t touch questionable items, leaving you hawking fakes on back-alley Facebook groups

Given the seller’s “LOTS of negative feedback for selling fakes,” this button’s true value lies only as a cautionary tale.

Hidden Truths: What X-Rays and Loupes Reveal

Beyond size lies a deeper forensic story most collectors miss:

Metal Fingerprints

Period buttons used specific alloys:

• Gilding metal with copper’s warm blush
• Sheffield plate’s silver kiss on copper

The listing’s yellowish hue suggests cheap brass—a metallurgical anachronism screaming “reproduction!”

The Dance of the Dies

Authentic hand-struck pieces boast:

• Charming 7-12 degree die rotations
• Varied strike pressures leaving topography-like fields
• Ejection marks where tongs grabbed glowing metal

This button’s robotic perfection belongs in a 1900s button factory, not a colonial workshop.

Market Madness: When Collectors Lose Their Minds

2023’s dangerous trends remind me of Dutch tulip mania—with better photography:

• “Rarity by Error” premiums turning obvious fakes into “desirable variants”
• Instagram-fueled FOMO overriding basic due diligence
• Newcomers (40% of Heritage’s 2023 bidders) mistaking auction adrenaline for investment strategy

These forces create temporary bubbles—but like all bubbles, they burst.

Your Authentication Arsenal

When confronting potential Washingtoniana, arm yourself with:

1. APIC’s Seal: Their $150 authentication service separates treasures from trash
2. Science’s Sword: XRF analysis cuts through deceptive patinas ($125 well spent)
3. Provenance Paper Trail: Chase lineage through:
• Stack’s Bowers’ century of records
• Colonial Williamsburg’s archives
• EAHA’s digital vault of early Americana

This button’s absence from Jimmy Hayes’ definitive archive? The most damning evidence of all.

Verdict: Collect Wisely, Collect Passionately

While this “Linked States” oddity sparks curiosity, its collectibility crumbles under scrutiny. Probability breakdown:

• 90% chance it’s a 20th-century fantasy piece
• 5% possibility of being an undocumented 1889 souvenir
• 5% shot at rewriting history books (I’d bet my tricorn hat against it)

The $2,575 price tag represents either tragic naivete or willful disregard for reality. Remember Washington’s warning about “pretended patriotism”—in our world, we battle pretended provenance. Stay vigilant, friends, and may your collections be filled with authenticated wonders that whisper true stories of America’s birth.

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