Here is an NC 8A by S.A. Myers of Richmond, Virginia.  In excavated condition this is one of the most commonly encountered Southern state seal buttons.  The NC 8 was made in many variants and have been recovered all over the eastern theatre.  This one was eyeballed in Manassas during the early 1950s.  The patina is dark but the reverse shows traces of gilding.  It is undamaged, measures 23mm across, and is a very nice dug specimen!

This has long been a very popular Confederate button.  The design, featuring a drooped wing eagle surrounded by eleven stars on a lined field with a wide surrounding border is simple yet arresting.  Unlike most button designs of the 19th century this one is unique in its artistry.  The bas-relief eagle is almost three dimensional and juts out from the face of the button some three millimeters!  This non-excavated 24mm diameter example is perfect.  The backmark is "Extra Rich / Treble Gilt."  Very nice.

This particular button was made by Van Wart, Son & Co. just before and during the War.  The button is identifiable by the misspelling of the Latin word Opibusque to "Opirusque", the presence of four fruits in the palmetto, and letters "S" and "C" flanking the palmetto's trunk.  This was a very common button during the era but is, nonetheless, an attractive and distinctive variant of South Carolina buttons.  This non-excavated example is in very good condition with only a slight bend to the shank to mar it's perfection.  The 23mm button was gilded and retains most of its finish.

Mintzer of Philadelphia made a beautiful Georgia state button.  Here is one non-excavated specimen bearing a light rosy tint to the face with a silver-washed reverse.  The backmark bears the Mintzer stamp with the date "1861" in it.  The 24mm button is in very good condition and shows slight traces of having been worn.

This button, made by "SCOVILLS & CO.  / WATERBURY", is a beauty.  It is non-excavated example with a sweet patina.  The 22mm button is unblemished and as pretty a VA 7 as you can find.

This is a very pretty non-excavated Georgia button by Mintzer of Philadelphia.  This is one of the examples with the date "1861" on the reverse in the backmark stamp.  This is a beautiful button with delicate die work and expensive production values.  It measures 24mm across. Even the depressed channel with the backmark is stippled, as are portions of the face.  Overall, a very nice example exhibiting little wear.

In June 1865 2nd Lieut. Joseph Bryant Coffield, Co. H, 1st N. C. Inf. was released from prison of war camp in Fort Delaware.  Coffield was 28 years old and had served 4 years in the Confederate army.  Captured at the Battlef of the Wilderness in May 1864 he was confined at Fort Delaware.  In August 1864 he was transferred to Hilton Head, S.C. destined to be placed with 599 other Confederate officers on an exposed flea-infested spit of land in Charleston Harbor.  These officers had been chosen by Federal authorities to serve as human deterrents to thwart Confederate artillery fire on their positions.  For 45 days these brave men were subjected to limited rations and water, no medical care, and the constant risk of short rounds exploding in their midst.  The horrendous act of barbarity was finally halted and the prisoners returned to the pens from which they'd been initially transferred.  They were detained even longer than many prisoners and released months after the Confederate surrender.  Those officers became lionized as the Immortal 600.  Coffield  made his way home in the summer of 1865.  He gave a North Carolina seal button made by Wildt & Son and a carved bone needlework stilleto he'd made in prison to Miss Morfit of Tarboro, N.C.  Two small notes were written at the time describing the relics.  (Originals are included.)  The group is nicely mounted in a large Riker case.  Research by Rossbacher resulted in printouts of Coffield's military records, muster rolls, and genealogy records along with images of his grave stone, cemetery,  etc.  This is a rare and exceptional group of relics from one of the Immortal 600.

Canfield & Brothers of Baltimore, Maryland, made this button for Virginia before the war. Despite an indentation on the reverse this button is beautiful. It is from the post-war shadow box collection of Richmond dentist Dr. Wray Wythe Davis., son of Dr. Hugh Wythe Davis, former Major and Asst. Surgeon to the 1st Virginia Infantry and Surgeon in Charge of the Soldier's Home Hospital in Richmond. In the years following the war Maj. Davis and his young son Wray collected relics. When Wray reached manhood he followed his father's footsteps in a medical career. Among his patients were many ex-Confederate soldiers, some of whom donated buttons from their uniforms to the collection. Young Dr. Davis displayed his Confederate plates and buttons in a shadow box in his dental office in Richmond into the 20th century.

The Confederate block letter buttons are distinctive and immediately recognizable as Confederate general service issue buttons. This example is from the post-war shadow box collection of Richmond dentist Dr. Wray Wythe Davis., son of Dr. Hugh Wythe Davis, former Major and Asst. Surgeon to the 1st Virginia Infantry and Surgeon in Charge of the Soldier's Home Hospital in Richmond. In the years following the war Maj. Davis and his young son Wray collected relics. When Wray reached manhood he followed his father's footsteps in a medical career. Among his patients were many ex-Confederate soldiers, some of whom donated buttons from their uniforms to the collection. Young Dr. Davis displayed his Confederate plates and buttons in a shadow box in his dental office in Richmond into the 20th century. This cavalry issue "C" was given to Dr. Davis and exhibits a sweet patina which overshadows the pushes in both face and reverse. As seen in the photos, the damage is not very noticeable and is reflected in the price.

Non-excavated North Carolina state seal made by S.A. Myers of Richmond, VA, measuring 23mm. A beautiful specimen of this great war-time button and still retains a piece of its thread on the shank. This button is from the post-war shadow box collection of Richmond dentist Dr. Wray Wythe Davis., son of Dr. Hugh Wythe Davis, former Major and Asst. Surgeon to the 1st Virginia Infantry and Surgeon in Charge of the Soldier's Home Hospital in Richmond. In the years following the war Maj. Davis and his young son Wray collected relics. When Wray reached manhood he followed his father's footsteps in a medical career. Among his patients were many ex-Confederate soldiers, some of whom donated buttons from their uniforms to the collection. Young Dr. Davis displayed his Confederate plates and buttons in a shadow box in his dental office in Richmond into the 20th century.

I have been fortunate enough to have excavated several of these in my relic hunting experiences. These are among my favorite Confederate buttons. Crudely cast of heavy solid brass each one is a little different from another. Shanks were not uniformly rendered and rims often appear a bit misshapen. But the letters CSA stand boldly across each face. Five of these non-dug specimenms were displayed in the shadow box collection of post-war collector Dr. Wray Wythe Davis of Richmond, VA. Wray W. Davis' father was Dr. Hugh Wythe Davis, former Major and Asst. Surgeon to the 1st Virginia Infantry and Surgeon in charge of the Soldier's Home Hospital in Richmond. In the years following the war Maj. Davis and his young son Wray collected relics from sites around Richmond. When Wray reached manhood he followed his father's footsteps in a medical career and among his patients were many ex-Confederate soldiers some of whom donated buttons from their uniforms to the collection. Young Dr. Davis displayed his Confederate plates and buttons in a shadow box in his dental office in Richmond into the 20th century. This button was but one of 68 displayed and one of six CS 86A's in it. I expect these were donated to him by one soldier / patient. All have similar patinas. A wonderful button with great provenance! I have five left.

This non-dug Confederate Navy button is very fine. Backmark is "Fine Treble Gilt" and is quite scarce in this condition. From the post-war shadow box collection of Richmond dentist Dr. Wray Wythe Davis., the son of Dr. Hugh Wythe Davis, former Major and Asst. Surgeon to the 1st Virginia Infantry and Surgeon in charge of the Soldier's Home Hospital in Richmond. In the years following the war Maj. Davis and his young son Wray collected relics from sites around Richmond. When the son reached manhood he followed his father's footsteps in a medical career and among his patients were many ex-Confederate soldiers some of whom donated buttons from their uniforms to the collection. Young Dr. Davis displayed his Confederate plates and buttons in a shadow box in his dental office in Richmond into the 20th century. This button was but one of 68 displayed.

Beautiful Confederate general service issue script C cavalry coat button, nonexcavated with a mellow golden brown patina. This button is from the post-war shadow box collection of Richmond dentist Dr. Wray Wythe Davis., son of Dr. Hugh Wythe Davis, former Major and Asst. Surgeon to the 1st Virginia Infantry and Surgeon in charge of the Soldier's Home Hospital in Richmond. In the years following the war Maj. Davis and his young son Wray collected relics. When Wray reached manhood he followed his father's footsteps in a medical career. Among his patients were many ex-Confederate soldiers some of whom donated buttons from their uniforms to the collection. Young Dr. Davis displayed his Confederate plates and buttons in a shadow box in his dental office in Richmond into the 20th century. This button was displayed in the shadow box until recently. Undamaged, perfect condition, blank back, 23mm.