Louisiana State Seal Coat Button
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Item: Louisiana State Seal Coat Button
Backmark: "*** EXTRA *** / RICH" dm.
Design: Louisiana state seal showing a pelican with head turned toward the right lies on a lined field with a rope border. The nest is quite small. (see more on the Louisiana state seal under the Additional Information section below)
Construction: Convex, two-piece.
Approximate size: 23 mm.
Condition: Very good, excavated, secure shank present. Overall brown patina and loaded with gilt. There is a slight push to the pelican's right wing. While the backmark is difficult to see, there are enough letters present to correctly identify it. There are no cracks, breaks, or repairs.
Recovered: Unknown
Reference: Tice: LA203A3 Albert: LA 2
Comments: This Louisiana coat button was acquired directly from the family of the local Virginia digger and will be an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War button or general relic collection.
Additional Information: According to "Uniform Buttons of the United States 1776-1865" by Warren K. Tice, regarding the button design, “Governor William Claiborne chose a pelican for the Louisiana state seal around 1812-1815. Native to the State, the bird is depicted injuring its breast to provide blood to nourish its young. According to Christian symbolism, the pelican embodies Christ’s blood given in a sacrificial act for man’s salvation. During the latter days of the Civil War, the Governor of the Confederate part of Louisiana used a pelican seal with head facing to its left, with many nestlings. The pro-Union Governor used a seal with the bird’s head turned to the right, with only four nestlings."
- Product Code:
- PC12294
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