Washington Inaugural Buttons: Crafting Potential & Authentication Challenges in Small-Size Specimens

Not Every Historical Treasure Belongs on a Finger

After fifteen years transforming coins into wearable art, I’ve developed a craftsman’s intuition: some pieces demand preservation over repurposing. The recent eBay sale of a purported small-size 1789 “Linked States” Washington inaugural button (hammering down at $2,575.25) sets my spidey senses tingling. Let’s examine why this controversial piece represents both a numismatic puzzle and an ethical crossroads for artisan jewelers.

Washington Buttons: America’s First Political Relics

Authentic 1789 inaugural buttons aren’t mere trinkets – they’re tangible connections to our nation’s dawn. These silvered slivers of history captivate collectors with:

• The distinctive 34mm diameter (about silver dollar size)
• Washington’s noble profile gazing leftward
• ‘LINKED STATES’ legend ringing the border like a constitutional halo
• A whisper-thin construction (barely 1.5mm) that time has often kissed with exquisite patina

“Study the thickness like your craft depends on it – 1789 originals are fragile as history itself, while 1889 centennial reissues pack Victorian heft” – Veteran Collector Wisdom

Our mystery button’s Lilliputian 23-24mm size raises red flags taller than the Washington Monument. While petite dimensions sing siren songs to ring-makers, questionable provenance turns potential treasure into ethical quicksand.

The Artisan’s Authentication Toolkit

Metal Tells the Tale

When silver whispers secrets to my loupe, I listen for these truths:

• 90% silver content sings with that special period luster
• Vickers hardness between 60-80 HV (perfect for gentle doming)
• Specific gravity around 10.3 – the sweet spot between workability and durability

Beware imposters! Brass and nickel might mimic silver’s look, but their Mohs 3-4 hardness turns ring-making into a battle of wills. I’ve seen cheaper metals murder good gravers.

Devil in the Details

Comparing our petite pretender to Stack’s Bowers archival photos reveals telling differences:

• Lettering Crimes: Authentic script flows like 18th-century calligraphy; this compressed text looks like it’s wearing colonial corset three sizes too small
• Relief Woes: At just 0.4mm depth versus the proper 0.8mm, Washington’s nose would vanish faster than a Continental dollar during inflation
• Edge Irregularities: Border beveling wobbles like a drunk minuteman – original dies cut cleaner lines than a Philadelphia barber-surgeon

Value Spectrum: Collectibility vs. Craftability

Your workshop decisions hinge on cold, hard numismatic reality:

“Check seller histories like you’re auditing the Mint – this auction house has more ‘reproduction’ incidents than a colonial counterfeiter’s diary” – Authentication Alert

When Beauty and History Collide

Structural Realities

That tempting 24mm diameter fits ring mandrels beautifully, but consider:

1. Metal Memory: Two-century-old silver remembers King George’s reign – one wrong tap and you’ve got a heartbreaking hairline fracture
2. Detail Survival: That wafer-thin relief disappears faster than powdered wig in a hurricane
3. Soldering Nightmares: Finding purchase for a shank on this petite profile requires jeweler’s gymnastics

Alternative Transformations

If provenance checks out, consider these respectful applications:

• Pendant Resurrection: Suspend history from a fine chain with minimal alteration
• Cufflink Cameo: Perfect scale for conversing piece at historical society galas
• Shadowbox Art: Frame alongside certified documentation as a study in numismatic mystery

The Ethical Artisan’s Checklist

Before my torch ever touches history, I deploy this verification arsenal:

1. XRF gun spectroscopy – the truth serum for metal content
2. 60x microscopic examination – seeking modern tooling’s telltale scars
3. Edge autopsy – natural corrosion patterns versus acid-bath aging
4. Provenance paper trail – no documents? No deal.
5. Weight matching – off by grains? Walk away.

Conclusion: Let Some Sleeping Histories Lie

This enigmatic button embodies our craft’s great tension: transform or preserve? While its size whispers jewelry potential, my experience shouts caution. The absence of comparable specimens in major collections combined with the seller’s checkered reputation forms a red flag brigade not even Betsy Ross would stitch together.

For Washington-inspired wearable art, I recommend these ethical alternatives:

• Centennial souvenirs with ironclad provenance – their thicker stock withstands creative interpretation
• Museum-licensed reproductions – modern metals behave better under the hammer
• Certified damaged originals – where transformation becomes rescue

True craftsmanship honors the past while creating the future. When wrestling with questionable pieces of this caliber, remember: the most valuable artifacts sometimes gain worth by remaining untouched. That $2,575 button? Let collectors debate its origins while we artisans channel our skills toward less contentious historical canvases. After all, Washington himself would likely prefer his likeness remain unmolested – unless it’s gracing a newly minted dollar, of course.

Related Resources

You might also find these related articles helpful:

• Preserving History: Expert Conservation Strategies for George Washington Inaugural Buttons (Including Suspect Variants) – I’ve Held Too Many Heartbreaking Relics – Protect Yours With These Expert Tips After three decades preservin…
• Authenticating the Small-Size ‘Linked States’ Washington Inaugural Button: How Grading Separates $250 Trinkets from $2,500 Treasures – Condition Is King: A Grader’s Secret to Unlocking True Value Ask any seasoned collector what separates ordinary pi…
• Small Size Alert: Authenticating the Rare Linked States George Washington Inaugural Button – Counterfeit Crisis: Why Your Magnifying Glass Matters After handling thousands of Revolutionary-era artifacts, I still c…