V.Rare American Rattlesnake Button- Rev Revolutionary War-Silver-Massachusetts

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V.Rare American Rattlesnake Button- Rev Revolutionary War-Silver-Massachusetts:
$3100.00

For your consideration is a rare example of an American Rattlesnake button from the Revolutionary War with most of the silver gilt intact. This very well may be the finest known example of this style of rattlesnake button in existence, I have never seen a finer example. This button appears in Don Troiani and James L. Kochan\'s Insignia of Independence, page 259, AUS.c. And it states, \"Device of rattlesnake among thirteen eggs. Struck gilded sheet copper with eye shank. Found near Charleston, South Carolina. 24mm.\" The button is in solid condition,with eye shank lost (please see photos; additional pre-cleaned photos available upon request). This button was found near Northhampton, MA.
Page 259 in Insignia ofIndependencegives a wonderful description of these mysterious Rattlesnake Buttons: \"These very interesting buttons may be military or political. Most have been found in company with American Revolutionary War Buttons...\"

Even before the Revolution, the rattlesnake was a popular symbol of the American cause. Rattlesnakes are native to North America; they don’t attack unless provoked (they give a warning before attacking even then); and although an individual rattle might not be heard, acting together, the rattles can be heard by all. In 1754 Benjamin Franklin’sPennsylvania Gazetteprinted the Join, or Die Flag with the segmented rattlesnake. It was printed to remind delegates at the Albany Congress of the importance of unity among the colonies in light of the impending war with France (French & Indian War). By 1774 the snake was usually shown whole and the motto had become, \"United Now Alive and Free Firm on this Basis Liberty Shall Stand and Thus Supported Ever Bless Our Land Till Time Becomes Eternity.\" One example of the united snake was the Culpepper Flag, which was probably based on a design that had been created to protest the Stamp Act called “Rebellious Stripes.” It was one of the first Flags used by the American Navy. This Flag (or a variation of it) was flown on American ships throughout the Revolution. The Gadsden Flag is a variation of the Don’t Tread on Me Flag. Its field was bright yellow. Designed by Colonel Christopher Gadsden of South Carolina, it was first used in February 1776 by Commander Esek Hopkins, Commander in Chief of the new Continental fleet. The snake motif was also commonly used on the mastheads of Colonial newspapers.

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