Early “US” Great Coat button, ca. 1820 – 1830, dug Southport, NC (SOLD)

This is another great button being offered, it is an excavated early Great Coat button, ca.1820s-1830s. It is an Army General Service button “US”, also known as a “Great Coat” button. It measures 20mm with an eagle at top, over the letters US, with an oval wreath at bottom. The reverse is missing the shank (why it was lost), and most of the writing has worn off except “…STATES”. It was recovered years ago at Southport, NC, near the Fort Johnston area.

Southport was founded as the town of Smithville in 1792 and was adjacent to Fort Johnston. The town was named after Benjamin Smith, a colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and later governor of North Carolina. Smithville grew as a fishing village and through supporting military activity. In an effort to promote the town as a major shipping port, Smithville was renamed Southport in 1887. This is a great early button and in very nice condition. It would make a great addition to any collection.