The Civil War Relicman,
Harry Ridgeway

Winchester, Virginia 
Civil War buttons bought and sold

relicman.com

Ridgeway Reference Archive, Civil War buttons
Catalog of button backmarks
blank backs, northern manufacture

This page will study blank backs for buttons made by northern producers.  Many were made before the war began and some were supplied to southern units during the peace before the storm.  

Why study blank backs?  Many different makers made them  and many different ways, so a study of them will reveal in some cases clues as to origin.  There are also "correct" Civil War period blank back, and those that are later.  

Confederate blank backs or "local" backs are studied on a separate page

Most information on this page is from Tice's book, Dating Buttons..., the pictures are generally from buttons that I have handled.  

BlankNorth01, (23mm)
B4417B.jpg (25925 bytes)
Backmark:  blank three concentric raised rings, one piece button concave back, maker unknown 1820's or 1830's, (BlankNorth01).
Tice, not listed.

B4417     Virginia button, state seal Virtus slaying the tyrant with sword up, low convex one piece, blank back with rings rm, (22.8mm)
Ref: Albert VA2B, Tice VA105B1.		 B4417.jpg (30518 bytes) B4417B.jpg (25925 bytes)

BlankNorth01Small, (23mm)

Backmark:  blank two concentric raised rings, one piece button concave back, small size only, maker unknown 1820's or 1830's, (BlankNorth01Small).
Tice, not listed.

B5858     Virginia button, state seal Virtus slaying the tyrant with sword up, low convex one piece, blank back with rings rm, (15mm)

BlankNorth02, (23mm) (large coat)

Backmark: blank with a channel, rmdc, Scovill generic stock button ca 1850's, (BlankNorth02).
Tice page 71, (Scovill Mfg), item count # 64.

B5823     Georgia state seal button, blank channel, (23.4mm)

B5929     South Carolina button, state seal with palmetto tree, blank back with channel, (22.5mm)

B3987     Virginia button, state seal Virtus slaying the tyrant with sword down, blank back with channel, (22.5mm)
Ref: Albert VA13A5, Tice VA222A10.

BlankNorth02, (21mm) (coat)
 
Backmark: blank with a channel, rmdc, Scovill generic stock button ca 1850's, (BlankNorth02).
Tice page 71, (Scovill Mfg), item count # 64.

B4150     Federal artillery button, eagle with "A", blank back with depressed channel, (20.7mm)

BlankNorth03Small, (14mm)

Backmark:  blank back, concentric raised rings, concave back on one piece button, Robinson manufactured 1830's, (BlankNorth03Small).
Tice, not listed.

B4086     Vermont cadet button, Norwich University, one piece, blank back with rings, (14mm)
Ref: AlbertSU287, Tice VTS250As, not listed.

BlankNorth04, (23mm)
B4793B.jpg (36717 bytes)
Backmark:  blank back, single depressed ring, probably Steele & Johnson ca 1860, (BlankNorth04).
Tice not listed.

B4793     New Hampshire state seal button, sailing ship, blank back, (23mm)
Ref: Albert NH6, not listed, Tice NH200E1.		 B4793.jpg (45144 bytes) B4793B.jpg (36717 bytes)

BlankNorth04small, (14mm)

Backmark:  blank back, single depressed ring, probably Steele & Johnson ca 1860, (BlankNorth04small).
Tice not listed.

B4374     New Hampshire state seal button, sailing ship, blank back, (14mm)
Ref: Albert NH6Av, not listed, Tice NH200As3.

BlankNorth05, (21mm)
B4444B.jpg (26311 bytes)
Backmark:  blank with depressed ring around the shank, made for Mintzer by Steele & Johnson, inexpensive generic back or could have been intended for the smuggling trade, (BlankNorth05).
Tice not listed.

B4444     Virginia button, state seal Virtus with sword down, Mintzer die pattern, blank back, (21mm)
Ref: Albert VA16A1, Tice VA230A4.		 B4444.jpg (31591 bytes) B4444B.jpg (26311 bytes)

BlankNorth06, (21mm)
B4416B.jpg (26993 bytes) 
Backmark:  back is unmarked but there is a faint outline of an earlier mark, probably this plain back was re-struck over an earlier mark. Armitage manufacture ca 1815 to 1825, (BlankNorth06).
Tice not listed.

B4416     Virginia button, state seal Virtus slaying the tyrant with sword down, low convex one piece, die variant VA1B, blank back, (21mm)
Ref: Albert VA1B, Tice VA100B5.		 B4416.jpg (39321 bytes) B4416B.jpg (26993 bytes)

BlankNorth06Small, (16mm)

Backmark:  back is unmarked, one part button concave back, mold seam through the center, manufacturer not determined, 1820's or 1830's manufacture, (BlankNorth06Small).
Tice, not listed.

B6171     Federal artillery button, eagle with "A", one part convex, blank back, (16mm)
 Museum collection.

BlankNorth07, (21mm)
B4678B.jpg (30496 bytes)
Backmark:  blank back, with a single depressed ring near the rim, maker not known, ca 1860's, (BlankNorth07).
Tice, not listed.
Note, manufacturing was very poor quality, die stampings are often weak, many backs are loose, shanks were fitted and not brazed and are usually loose.

B4133     Federal infantry button, eagle with "I",  blank back with single solid ring, (20mm)
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215, not listed.

B4678      Federal artillery button, eagle with "A", blank back with single ring, (20.7mm)
 B4678.jpg (31909 bytes) B4678B.jpg (30496 bytes) 

BlankNorth08Small, (15mm)
B5071B.JPG (28451 bytes)
Backmark:  blank back, with a single depressed ring near the rim, depression around the shank is from assembly, maker not known, ca 1860's, (BlankNorth08Small).
Tice, not listed.

B4888     Federal cavalry button, eagle with "C", blank back concentric rings, (14.4mm)

B5071     Virginia button, state seal Virtus with sword down, blank back with rings, (14.7mm)
Ref: Albert VA13, not listed, Tice VA222As8.		 B5071A.JPG (35425 bytes) B5071B.JPG (28451 bytes)

BlankNorth09, (19mm)
B5090B.JPG (39992 bytes)
Backmark: blank back, with a two depressed rings around the shank, probably Scovill manufacture, ca 1850's, (BlankNorth09).
Tice, not listed.

B5090     Virginia cadet button, Norfolk Male Academy, blank back, (19mm)
 B5090A.JPG (38052 bytes) B5090B.JPG (39992 bytes)

BlankNorth10small, (13.6mm)
Backmark: blank back, channel with ring of dots, rmdc, probably Steele & Johnson 1850's, only used on small size, (BlankNorth10small).
Tice, not listed.

B5831     Western Military Institute button, "WMI", channel with dots, (13.6mm)

BlankNorth11Small, (16mm)
Backmark:  blank back, ring of dots, dm, maker not identified, (BlankNorth11Small).
Tice not listed.

B5304     Alabama button, Alabama Volunteer Corps, "AVC", blank back with ring of dots, (15.5mm)
Ref: Albert AB3, not listed, AB214As5.
B5833     Louisiana button, state seal pelican on a plain field without border, plain back with ring of dots, (16mm)
Recovered: not known.
Ref: Albert LA4 not listed, Tice LA210Am3.

BlankNorth12, (21mm)
Backmark: blank back, no rings, depressed area around shank, maker not identified, (BlankNorth12).
Tice, not listed.

B5741     South Carolina button, state seal with palmetto tree, blank back, (21mm)
Recovered: not known. 
Ref: Albert SC13A6 variant, Tice SC248 not listed.

BlankNorth13Vest, (19mm)
Backmark:  blank back, two concentric rings of dots, deep well around shank, maker unknown, ca. 1850's or 1860's, (BlankNorth13Vest).
Tice, not listed.

B4134     Federal infantry button, eagle with "I", blank back with concentric rings of dots, (19.2mm)
Ref: Albert GI85/88, Tice GI215, not listed.

BlankNorth13Small, (15mm)
Backmark:  blank back, two concentric rings of dots, deep well around shank, maker unknown, ca. 1850's or 1860's, (BlankNorth13Small).
Tice, not listed.

B4519     Pennsylvania button, National Guard "NG", officer staff, blank back with rings of dots, (14.6mm)
 

BlankNorth14, (17mm)
Backmark: blank back, narrow depressed channel is stippled, ca. 1850's, (BlankNorth14).
Tice, not listed.

B3990     Virginia school button, Episcopal High School, "EHS", plain back with a channel, (17.3mm)
  

BlankNorth15Small, (15mm)

Backmark:  blank back, with a two depressed rings, maker not known, ca 1860's, (BlankNorth15Small).
Tice, not listed.
Note, manufacturing was very poor quality, die stampings are often weak, many backs are loose, shanks were fitted and not brazed and are usually loose.

B5786      Federal rifleman button, eagle with "R",  blank back with two solid rings, (15.5mm)

BlankNorth16Small, (16mm)

Backmark:  blank back, with a deep well around the shank, maker not known, ca 1860's, (BlankNorth16Small).
Tice, not listed.

B5938     Federal artillery button, eagle with "A", split moline, blank back with well around shank, (16mm)

BlankNorth17, (24mm)

Backmark:  blank back, with concentric rm rings around shank, ca 1820's , (BlankNorth17).
Tice, not listed.

B5866     Federal Infantry button, eagle over flags with "Propatria" and "Infy.", flat one part, blank back with rings, (24mm)

BlankNorth18Small, (14.6mm)

Backmark:  Backmark, blank back slightly depressed channel is stippled,  (BlankNorth18Small).
Tice, not listed.

B5848     South Carolina button, state seal with palmetto tree, blank back with stippled channel, (14.6mm)

BlankNorth19Small, (14mm)

Backmark blank back, one piece coin style button with fitted skin, (BlankNorth19Small).
Tice, not listed.

B5861     Federal Infantry button, eagle beside shield, flat one part, blank back, (13.8mm)

BlankNorth20, (20mm)

Backmark: blank back, one piece flat button, white metal, 1810 to 1820, (BlankNorth20).
Tice, not listed.

B5867     Federal infantry button, script I over star, one piece flat white metal, blank back, (20.5mm)

BlankNorth98, (26mm) 

Backmark:  Blank iron back, inner ring, late 19th century could be 20th century, (BlankNorth98).

B4348     Texas button, state seal, flat star surrounded by "TEXAS" on lined field with border, blank iron back with inner ring, (23mm)
Button depicts depicts state seal of Texas, the lone star, intended for officers of Texas militia units.  This pattern features a flat star, "TEXAS" on a lined field, star is small and pattern was manufactured well after the Civil War.  Backmark:  Blank iron back, inner ring, late 19th century could be 20th century, (BlankNorth98).  Two part convex button, coat size.
Ref: Albert TX35, manufactured after the Civil War.