Silvered Diplomatic Corps Button with Eagle and Stars
Circa 1785–1800 - 34 mm
 
An early American coat button of silvered copper struck with a prominent turkey-style eagle surmounted by thirteen stars on a plain field, reflecting an early interpretation of national iconography in the years following independence. Constructed as a two-part button with copper shell and silvered finish, the example retains its original shank.
 
Buttons of this type are believed to relate to early United States diplomatic service, a field from which surviving material is exceedingly scarce. The form and device reflect the evolving federal symbolism of the immediate post-Revolutionary period.
 
Condition: Excellent.