The purpose of this section is to provide examples of metal
buttons as defined in the NBS Classification Guide1
(Blue Book) including one or more examples of each type in the listings and
an example that covers each term in the definitions. No attempt is made to
illustrate the wide variety of possibilities in the class/subclass
categories. . Each
example is labeled in accordance with the Blue Book Section 10 outline.
Passing your mouse over the button image will turn the button over so the
back may be seen. In some cases, more than one example of a type is shown.
Finally, scanning or photographing buttons has distinct limitations in the
areas of perspective, color, details, and dimensions. Thus, many buttons do
not reveal their true character and appearance in the photos or scans. When
uncertainty exists, ask a fellow collector, club member or a dealer to show
you an actual example of the button in question. A Section 10 metal
buttons worksheet has
been provided and can be downloaded or printed by clicking the link at the
bottom of this page.
| Hover your mouse over the button images below to see the back of the button | |||
|---|---|---|---|
10-1 White Metals Assorted - Buttons constructed of white metal alloys (appearing white or gray) |
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 10-1 White Metal - Brass OME |
 10-1 White Metal - Tinted |
 10-1 White Metal - BM "Alpaca Mexico" Nickel plate to imitate Silver |
 10-1 White Metal - Steel OME |
10-2 Aluminum - Button characterized by their light weight compared to other metals |
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 10-2 Aluminum - Cast |
 10-2 Aluminum - Anodized |
 10-2 Aluminum - Painted |
 10-2 Aluminum - Painted & Cut |
 10-2 Aluminum - Stamped |
 10-2 Aluminum - Anodized |
 10-2 Aluminum - Gold paint |
 10-2 Aluminum - Verbal |
10-3 Pewter Assorted - Tin alloyed with varying proportions of lead, zinc, antimony, bismuth or copper |
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 10-3 Pewter |
 10-3 Pewter - Christina BM |
 10-3 Pewter - Danforth BM Paint DF |
 10-3 Pewter - Danforth BM Cold Plastic Enamel DF |
 10-3 Pewter - Rimmed See reference 2, plate 80 for explanation |
 10-3 Pewter - Faced (BM "Patent") See reference 2, plate 81 for explanation |
 10-3.1 Pewter - Bright Cut |
 10-3.1 Pewter - Bright Cut |
 10-3.2 Pewter - Hard White (BM) |
 10-3.3 Pewter - Soft Cast |
 10-3.3 Pewter - Soft Cast High lead content - "Plumbago" type |
Britannia Pewter Example not yet found |
10-4 Silver Assorted - Usually alloyed with copper to give it strength and hardness |
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 10-4 Silver - BM "N&H + hallmarks" |
 10-4 - Studio BM "AF - 88" |
 10-4 Silver - Plate Used on Bagpiper Costume |
 10-4.1 American Indian |
 10-4.2 Hallmarked - (925) Silver (BM) |
 10-4.2 Hallmarked-Sterling (925) Silver (BM) |
 10-4.2 Hallmarked-Sterling (930) Silver (BM) Hallmarks also for Coin (900) and Jewelry (800) |
 10-4.3 Niello |
10-5 Steel Assorted - Attraction to a magnet is a key to identification |
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 10-5.1 Blued/Tinted Applied to all of the button |
 10-5.1 Blued/Tinted Applied to part of the button |
 10-5.1 Blued/Tinted Applied to part of the button |
 10-5.2 Cut and Riveted Tinted steels on brass base |
 10-5.2 Cut and Riveted Black Glass OME |
 10-5.2 Cut and Riveted (on steel) |
 10-5.3 Engraved/Etched |
 10-5.4 Flat with applied design/decoration |
 10-5.5 Stamped/Forged - Tint |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup - Brass Center |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup - Brass Center |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup - Brass Center |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup Brass Center |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup Wood Background |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup Paint DF |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup Shell Center - Watchwheel |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup - Brass OME |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup - Brass OME |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup - Pierced |
 10-5.6 Steel Cup Pierced Border/Pearl Center |
10-6 Tinned White Metals - Pure or block tin buttons very rare |
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 10-6 Tin Plated Zinc
- Perforate |
 10-6 Crystallized Tin |
 10-6 Tin Plated Sheet Iron |
10-6 Pure "Block" Tin Example not yet found. |
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Acknowledgments: Thanks to Lou Yeargain, Barbara Barrans, Kevin Kinne, June Chapman, Gloria Badger, Jane Quinby, and Jane Perry who assisted in the development of this educational resource. They provided reviews, comments or other support including images or buttons for the examples shown. Potential labeling issues or suggested improvements should be directed to the Button Country team at Contact Us. References: (1) National Button Society Blue Book - Official NBS Classification and Competition Guidelines (2) Hughes, Elizabeth and Marion Lester. The Big Book of Buttons. St Johann Press - 2010 (3) Warren K. Tice - Dating Buttons, A Chronology of Button Types, Makers, Retailers & Their Backmarks, 2003 |
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