Virginia State Seal Coat Button - "Soup Bowl"
Item: Virginia State Seal Coat Button - "Soup Bowl" - 1825-1835
Backmark: Present but unreadable. (either "**BEST** / PLATED" or *RICH* / TREBLE GILT") rm
Design: Virginia coat of arms on a plain field, with the figures of Virtus standing over Tyranny. The state motto of "SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS" is below with "VIRGINIA" above.
Construction: Convex, one-piece.
Approximate size: 22 mm.
Condition: Very good, excavated, secure shank present. The front of this button is covered with silver with the exception of a few areas of surface damage due to ground action. There are no cracks, breaks, bends or repairs.
Recovered: Southampton County, VA
Reference: Tice: VA110A1or2 Albert: VA 3
Comments: The term "soup bowl" is derived from the fact that the button was manufactured into a deeper curved bowl instead of the more common low convex example. The soup bowl variety is much harder to recover than the low convex examples. This Virginia state seal button will be an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War button or general relic collection.
According to "Uniform Buttons of the United States 1776-1865" by Warren K. Tice, this classification of button was manufactured about 1825-1835.
"George Wythe designed a coat of arms in 1776 which reflects strong anti-monarchy, pro-republican sentiments. Virtus, genius of the Commonwealth, in Amazon attire, holds a spear with her right hand and a sword with her left (Civil War-era Virginia state seal buttons show Virtus holding the spear in her left hand). The form of Tyranny lies at the feet of Virtus, with the despised crown, a broken chain, and scourge cast upon the ground. The Latin motto of Virginia is Sic Semper Tyrannis, "Thus ever to tyrants." John Wilkes Booth shouted this phrase as he leapt to the stage of Ford's Theater after shooting President Lincoln. All Virginia arms buttons bear the Commonwealth motto."
- Product Code:
- PC11923
- Price:
- $215.00
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