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GWI 10-A & B THE SCRIPT
"GW" MONOGRAM WITH THE FOUR DOT BORDER ORNAMENTS:
This variety was manufactured in either Copper or Brass,
and GWI 10-B was made with a
Gilt
finish. The Size for both A & B is 35mm, and they
both have a R-6 Rarity Rating. These are one-piece
buttons with soldered on loop shanks.
GWI 10-A is the
only inaugural button that has a convex pattern.
Looking at the specimen today, it kind of gives it that old fashioned look, and comfortable
grandmother feel. The center of the button has a shallow
impressed well with a flat base. This
well is nicely adorned
with a fancy
Script "GW" Monogram that is in high
relief. There are two raised
Ornamental Swirls off the
"W," . This
added design compliments the script letters by adding some
"era" flair. Encompassing the monogram is a slightly raised
Convex Field Ring.
This gives the button a raised
convex dimension, and gives it that old fashioned charm. Encircling the
outside perimeter is a depressed channel well, which
contains the button's Slogan. The popular slogan of
used at Washington's
inauguration, "Long Live The President,"
is in all raised Roman Font capital letters. Raised
in-between each of the words is a series of
Four Raised Ornamental Dots in an off set pattern. The edge has a
slightly raised rim, which helps accentuates the
motto, and adds a little protection for the inner
letters.
I decided to introduce a
New
Sub-Variety, GWI 10-B,
because a new die was fashioned with design changes. GWI
10-B is definitely more fancier
and ornate then the original GWI 10-A, but since it shares
the same unique design pattern, I kept it within the GWI
10 family. First, GWI 10-B has a
stippled base for both the center well and outside channel. Second, there is a double stippled ring on both
sides of the button's field ring. Third, the concentric
field ring is flat, and not convex as GWI 10-A. This is
a welcomed version for this variety. It accentuates the
original pattern with an ostentatious elegance and
charm.
This new sub-variety GWI
10-B was first re-discovered in the 1970's by a metal
detector enthusiast who found two of them buried
together. |
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GWI 10-B THE SCRIPT
"GW" MONOGRAM WITH THE FOUR DOT BORDER ORNAMENTS
Color: A Nicely Toned Dark Golden-Brown Patina.
Metal: Flat, 1-Pice, Raised Design, Gilded Brass.
Size: 35mm.
Rarity: R-6
Variety Type: Two Concentric Stippled Rings.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example,
Exceptional Planchet Casting, Exceptional Impressions.
Obverse Button Analysis: This is a wonderful
example of this rare variety. The button appears to be
almost unblemished, even though it was buried for
countless years. So the obvious conclusion is that the
button was cleaned after being excavated. The copper
planchet is solid and flat, and shows no metal fatigue
or deterioration. The surface still has an amazing
amount of gilt, and is free of any harsh nicks or
scratches. The fancy script "GW" Monogram still shows a
good clear image in high relief. The Ornamental Swirls
of the "W" are both nicely raised, and both shows strong
fluid lines. The center well has a nice foot print
impression, and shows a clear image of most of it's
stipples. The inner stippled ring has a nice image of
most of it's stipples, but there are a few flat spots
around the 4 o'clock position. The outer open field
appears to be nice and flat, and has a nice even coppery
brown color tone. The outer stippled ring also has a
nice clear image of most of it's stipples. There are a
few filled in or flat spots, but nothing that really
detracts. The outside stippled legend channel is also in
very nice shape. Most of the stipples show, and sets the
letters in the motto off nicely. The Roman Font Capital
Letters for the Slogan are all nicely raised with a good
clear image. There might be a little flat wear to the
tops of some letters, but very minimal. The Four Dot
Ornaments between the Slogan's words are all nicely
raised with a good clear image. The outside protection
ring is still nicely raised with only the smallest of
nicks. There might be some minor micro porosity, but
hard to tell without close up inspection. This appears
to be the best example known for this re-discovered
sub-variety.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a flat one-piece
button with a soldered on loop shank. Unknown information about
reverse.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 10 B-1:
History: Yes
Recorded Sales Price: No
Current Button Owner and Location: No
Two of these were
excavated in South Carolina in the 1970's.~ |
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GWI 10-A THE SCRIPT "GW"
MONOGRAM WITH THE FOUR DOT BORDER ORNAMENTS
Color: Algae Green.
Metal: 1-Piece, Slightly Convex, Raised Design,
Copper.
Size: 35mm.
Rarity: R-6
Variety Type: Raised Convex Field Ring.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example,
Exceptional Planchet Casting, Exceptional High Relief.
Obverse Button Analysis: Maybe one in every
thousand dug buttons has this special green shade
throughout. The brass planchet is solid, and shows no
metal fatigue or deterioration. The surface is nice and
smooth, and free of any scratches or abrasions. There
maybe be some micro porosity around the edges, and in
the center well, but very minimal. The center well still
has a nice impression, and gives the raised monogram
good volume. The fancy script "GW" Monogram is nicely
elevated, and has a good clear image of the letters. The
Ornamental Swirls off the "W" are both nicely raised,
and show strong unbroken fluid lines. The Convex Field
Ring is nicely elevated, and shows no indents, pits or
impressions to the surface. It appears to be smooth
without any scratches or blemishes. The legend channel
is flat and nicely impressed. The Roman Font Capital
Letters for the Slogan are all nicely raised, but some
letters exhibit flat pressed tops. This could be age, or
die fatigue from when the button was manufactured. But
all the letters are easy to read with a good clear
image. The Four Dot Ornaments that separate the words
have a nice clear image, but some of the dots are muted
into each other. Like the ones between the "E" and "T" &
"E" & "P". The outside protection ring is still nicely
raised, but does show some micro porosity along it's top
edges. Overall this is still an good example with a
strong pattern.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a flat back one-piece
button with a soldered on loop shank. Unknown information about
reverse.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 10 A-1:
History:
Yes
Recorded Sales Price:
No
Current Button Owner and Location:
No
Excavated by John in
2006.~ |
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GWI 10-B THE SCRIPT
"GW" MONOGRAM WITH THE FOUR DOT BORDER ORNAMENTS
Color: Algae Green Over Charcoal Brown.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Raised Design, Gilded Brass.
Size: 35mm.
Rarity: R-6
Variety Type: Two Concentric Stippled Rings.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example, Fair
Planchet Casting, Good High Relief.
Obverse Button Analysis: I like this example
because it still shows a clear image of the original
design pattern. The planchet obviously has two holes.
One in the three o'clock position, and one along the
outer edge. The surface is corroded, and has green
encrustations that have formed from the chemical
reaction of the gilded brass and soil nitrogen levels.
On the positive side, there are no deep scratches or
abrasions marring the surface or the pattern. The fancy
script "GW" Monogram still shows a clear image in high
relief. The Ornamental Swirls of the "W" are both nicely
raised, and both show strong unbroken fluid lines. The
center well only has a nice foot print impression, and
the stipples are covered over by the green
encrustations. The inner stippled ring barely shows any
of it's stipples. The outer open field appears to be
corroded, and discolored. The outer stippled ring is
mostly covered over, and barely has an image. The
outside legend channel is still nicely impressed, but
most of it's stipples are hard to see because of the
green encrustations. There is also the 2nd hole after
the "T" in President. The Roman Font Capital Letters for
the Slogan are all nicely raised, and still have a clear
image, except for the "T". The green background actually
sets off the corroded brown letters. There is also a
little flat wear to the tops of some letters, but very
minimal. Most of the Four Dot Ornaments between the
Slogan's words are still nicely raised, and easy to see.
Only the Ornaments between the "T" & "L" are worn down.
The outside protection ring has a break from the hole at
the 2 O'clock position. Otherwise the protection ring is
still raised around the perimeter. Aside from the
corrosion and the blatant holing, the pattern is still
pretty strong with a good image. Unfortunately, there
isn't too many examples of this variety to choose from,
so this should be considered for a collection if it
presents itself for sale.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a flat one-piece
button with a soldered on loop shank. Unknown information about
reverse.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 10 B-2:
History:
Yes
Recorded Sales Price:
No
Current Button Owner and Location:
No
Excavated by Lee Phillips
in March 2007.~ |
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GWI 10-A THE SCRIPT "GW"
MONOGRAM WITH THE FOUR DOT BORDER ORNAMENTS
Color: A Brass Yellow with Olive Undertones.
Metal: 1-Piece, Slightly convex, Raised Design,
Copper.
Size: 35mm.
Rarity: R-6
Variety Type: Raised Convex Field Ring.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example, Good
Planchet Casting, Good High Relief.
Obverse Button Analysis: Just wondering if sun
glasses were an option with this button? I guess when
they excavated it, it was cleaned incorrectly with some
kind of brass polish. The planchet is still solid, but
does show indents on the field ring. The surface is a
bit uneven, and has small shallow depressions
throughout. On the positive side, there are no scratches
or abrasions. The button shows some micro porosity in
the center well, as well as inside the legend channel.
The center well still has a nice impression, and
adequately gives the raised monogram's letters good
volume. The fancy script "GW" Monogram is still nicely
elevated, and shows a good clear image of the letters.
The bottom of the G's tail is a bit flat pressed, but
only minimal. The Ornamental Swirls off the "W" are both
nicely raised, and show good fluid lines. The Convex
Field Ring is nicely elevated, but has multiple small
indents on the surface. Possibly a bit porous around the
3 O'clock position. The Roman Font Capital Letters for
the Slogan are a bit flat pressed and worn down, but
they are clear and readable. The Four Dot Ornaments that
separate the words have a nice clear image, but are also
worn down into the surface. The outside protection ring
is still nicely raised, but does show some micro
porosity around the edges. Aside from the unprofessional
cleaning with polish, this is a nice example with a
strong pattern.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a flat back one-piece
button with a soldered on loop shank. Unknown information about
reverse.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 10 A-2:
History: Yes
Recorded Sales Price: No
Current Button Owner and Location: No
Excavated in 2006.~ |
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GWI 10-A THE SCRIPT "GW"
MONOGRAM WITH THE FOUR DOT BORDER ORNAMENTS
Color: Mud Brown.
Metal: 1-Piece, Slightly convex, Raised Design,
Copper.
Size: 35mm.
Rarity: R-6
Variety Type: Raised Convex Field Ring.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example, Fair
Planchet Casting, Fair High Relief.
Obverse Button Analysis: Feels like this button
was just pulled out of the mud and stayed that way. The
brass planchet is still solid, but shows metal fatigue,
slight bends and shallow depressions on the surface. The
button's obverse is porous, pitted and corroded.
Fortunately, there appears to be no harsh scratches or
abrasions. The center well has a decayed impression, but
still shows some depth around the rim on one side. The
fancy script "GW" Monogram is nicely elevated, but the
tops of the letters show micro porosity. The Ornamental
Swirls off the "W" are decayed, and one of the lines is
worn smooth into the surface. The Convex Field Ring is
in rough shape. It has a corroded granular texture, and
shows micro porosity. The Roman Font Capital Letters for
the Slogan are barely elevated, and the letters are
almost decayed into the surface. The Four Dot Ornaments
that separate the words barely show an image, and are
mostly decayed into the surface also. The outside
protection ring is still slightly raised in some areas,
but shows corrosion and micro porosity along it's edges.
Overall, this is what i would expect to find after being
buried for 225 years. Still must be considered by a
serious collector because of the limited numbers.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a flat back one-piece
button with a soldered on loop shank. Unknown information about
reverse.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 10 A-3:
History: Yes
Recorded Sales Price: No
Current Button Owner and Location: No
Excavated in November 2007.~
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GWI 10-A THE SCRIPT "GW" MONOGRAM WITH THE FOUR DOT
BORDER ORNAMENTS
Color: A Charcoal Green with Rusty Orange
Undertones.
Metal: 1-Piece, Slightly convex, Raised Design,
Copper.
Size: 35mm.
Rarity: R-6
Variety Type: Raised Convex Field Ring.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example, Good
Planchet Casting, Strong High Relief Pattern.
Obverse Button Analysis: This pattern mostly
turns up in the southern states. The planchet is still
solid and flat, but does show signs of metal fatigue and
corrosion. The surface is a bit coarse, and has pockets
of microporosity. The design is strong, and there are no
scratches or abrasions on the surface. The center well
has a nice deep impression, and gives the monogram's
letters good height. The fancy script "GW" Monogram is
nicely elevated, and has strong fluid lines for the
ornate letters. The Ornamental Swirls off the "W" are
both nicely raised, with no smooth spots or breaks. The
Convex Field Ring has good elevation, but the surface is
coarse and has micro porosity throughout. The Roman Font
Capital Letters for the Slogan are easy to read, but the
tops appear to be a bit flat pressed. The Four Dot
Ornaments that separate the words have a clear image,
but again are worn down into the surface. The outside
protection ring is still nicely raised, but does show
some porosity on it's edges. Overall, this is a fine
example and a welcome into the GWI 10-A family.
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a flat back
one-piece button with a soldered on loop shank. The
shank is original and intact, but crushed inward. Very
porous and corroded surface.
Library Records Has Limited Information WI 10 A-4:
History: Yes
Recorded Sales Price: Yes
Current Button Owner and Location:
~ Indiana ~
Dug in North Carolina in 2006.~ |
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