Search found 50 matches

by steve7408
Sat Oct 05, 2019 11:45 am
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

The date should have been 5th of October 2019 not September, sorry.
by steve7408
Sat Oct 05, 2019 11:16 am
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Latest bit of information which has really helped to tie up the scientific dates with the transactions of 12 silver buttons by Job Prince Saturday 5th September 2019 update;- This is quite important and changes the percentage rate for definite, in the book, Early Connecticut Silver 1700-1840 page 24...
by steve7408
Thu Oct 03, 2019 4:10 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

I am pleased you have enjoyed the journey Traintime, I have for most of it, but having to clarify every point along the way to very sceptical people, which was very time consuming. Every time an issue was raised about the buttons, I had to prove otherwise as best as possible, then when I had done th...
by steve7408
Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:55 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

There was still some doubt as to the loop/shank date that the silversmith had applied to the buttons, so once again I had a ICP-OES test carried out on 3 loops, results are reassuring and what I was hoping for. I have uploaded the data on my website, https://www.12americancolonialsilvercoinbuttons.c...
by steve7408
Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:42 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Thought I would put a update here about the engraved cypher on the buttons, had a few arguments regarding the date of this type of cypher. Here is a link to one of my books which is on Google, page 135 mentions the engraving and how important it was then in the Stuart period, the plate page just aft...
by steve7408
Sat Jul 20, 2019 6:02 am
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Hi Aguest, Your posting made me smile a bit, I wrote a piece which is not great but it tells people all I have learnt, I had a little website made and put the story with pictures on there. So if your interested here's the link https://www.12americancolonialsilvercoinbuttons.co.uk/ Hope you enjoy the...
by steve7408
Wed Apr 10, 2019 2:20 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Hi Trev, Thanks for that reply, I am feeling much better. Thought I would clarify the test carried out to the buttons, it was an ICP-OES which Chris the Lab man said looks at all the elements within the sample, it is the impurities that are vitally important. Link to Assay site- https://www.assayoff...
by steve7408
Tue Feb 26, 2019 2:13 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Hi to all, I haven't posted here for some time as I was unwell to say the least, all due to strong medication from my doctors which sent me off the rails so to speak. Had a mild heart attack in June 2015, meds increased again, thank God I only needed a few stents fitted, no major damage. You will no...
by steve7408
Sat Apr 18, 2015 6:24 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Have now got definite proof of what I have been trying to say but it has taken a while, the picture is the back edge of a small button, the edge of silver has split or worn away, this reveals a treasure trove of beautiful minerals. Click on the image to enlarge, I'm going to chill now and have some ...
by steve7408
Sat Apr 18, 2015 6:54 am
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Trev, Not a dumb question at all, I am like you in respect of minerals, never thought silver would take me to this subject. I find it astonishing and intriguing to say the least, as we all know silver and gold are found in mineral rocks, just don't know which ones which is a shame as I have some nic...
by steve7408
Sat Apr 18, 2015 5:20 am
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

After a gentle clean with hot water and washing liquid, I had a look at this button and came across this stunning blue mineral? Just to keep the board updated for those interested, I know it's gone a little away from the silver in a way but this is what is in the silver. http://img37.imagevenue.com/...
by steve7408
Fri Apr 17, 2015 3:41 am
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

I have been on a mineralogy site having a discussion with some gents, this is regarding if the minerals are dust of dirt infill's. I posted this message which should be interesting, copied and pasted from the other site:- Gent's I am going to show you a few more pictures of a engraved line, the pict...
by steve7408
Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:34 am
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Been speaking to some other people who like a few others believe it's sand grains and dirt, I admit some has got to be dust and dirt BUT, how do you explain these pictures? The silver has been worn away to this area, underneath the silver is a onyx looking material which also runs into the engraved ...
by steve7408
Wed Apr 15, 2015 2:09 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Got a lovely picture of the quartz with a silver vein running through, you can see this has melted into a silver foil in appearance, a few of the same towards the back of the picture. If anybody who reads this thread knows someone in mineralogy, could you ask them to have a look in and give their op...
by steve7408
Tue Apr 14, 2015 7:43 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Aguest, Pleased you enjoy the thread, you say the mineral deposits are puzzling! You want to be at this end trying to make sense of it all, the minerals have not been refined enough as you would normally to make silver even in the 1600's? For these minerals to be fused enough to melt on the outside ...
by steve7408
Tue Apr 14, 2015 8:21 am
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

After more hours checking out the button with the cracks and flakes missing I have now come to the conclusion that: All but one of the buttons that at one time were coins have been rubbed down to remove traces of the decoration, the silversmith has then made a loop and soldered it on to turn them in...
by steve7408
Mon Apr 13, 2015 2:24 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Two more pictures under high magnification, I have only slightly enhanced the colours due to the microscopes light making the pictures look cold. These pictures are of the engraved lines running through the silver surface into the silver and mineral rich deposits within the buttons, it's as if they ...
by steve7408
Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:51 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Here's my last picture for tonight, I have used a light across one of the earlier photographs to highlight the gold flecks and grains. it's on the others if you copy the pictures and zoom in a little, I was so captured by the quartz that I didn't see the gold!!!!! http://img214.imagevenue.com/loc109...
by steve7408
Sun Apr 12, 2015 2:45 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

These are pictures of the back of a small button, the soldering shows an area which just would not fill I presume, there looks like pieces of Quartz in the silver and the solder. Any wise people here like to give me their opinion? it would be appreciated if you know about metallurgy. http://img187.i...
by steve7408
Fri Apr 10, 2015 2:12 pm
Forum: Coin Silversmiths ~ American pre-1860
Topic: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons
Replies: 49
Views: 44668

Re: 12 American Colonial Silver Buttons

Have now found a method of testing which should answer many of the questions, it's called a SEM, scanning electron microscope. Spoke to a professor who is trying to get one of his students to do the tests, lets hope they find it interesting enough, more money but should be well worth it. 8 years of ...

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