c. 1775 Revolutionary War Era, Historic American Political Button, Struck in Copper and Gilded, “Rattlesnake and Stars” Design, 24mm, Troiani AUS.b, a well detailed Very Fine.
24mm. This important major design type in struck copper and gilded. This button displays an American “Rattlesnake” with its Tail in Mouth, encircling 13-Stars (representing the 13 American Colonies). The thirteen raised Six-pointed Stars are bordered by a surrounding Rattlesnake, it's long tail design providing the outer raised border encircling the stippled field containing the 13-Stars. This button design can be found in Don Troiani’s reference book “Insignia of Independence” on page 259 being illustrated as AUS.b. There is no shank present on the reverse. A significant amount of the surface still has gilding present with some darker areas as shown. We have seen only a few examples of this historic 13-Star “Rattlesnake and Stars” design over the decades and this one is vastly superior in eye appeal to most. As the American colonies came to identify more with their own communities and the concept of liberty, rather than as vassals of the British empire, icons that were unique to the Americas became increasingly popular. The rattlesnake, like the bald eagle and American Indian, came to symbolize American ideals and society. As the American colonies came to identify more with their own communities and the concept of liberty, rather than as vassals of the British empire, icons that were unique to the Americas became increasingly popular. The Rattlesnake, like the bald eagle and American Indian, came to symbolize American ideals and society. The last similar example we sold was in our EAHA Auction of February 9th, 2018 Lot 108, graded as Excavated with shank, Very Fine selling for $3,250. This scarce historic type is highly sought after by Revolutionary War, Political, and general American Button collectors alike.

[American Revolution, Revolutionary War, Colonial America] [Rattlesnake Symbolism, Patriotic Iconography, Thirteen Colonies] [Uniforms and Equipage, Buttons, Militaria]