Recovered Relics

Breeching Dee Buckle (Horse Related)– A cast one piece buckle consiting of three distinct elements, a “D” shaped loop, a central rectangular opening, and a long bar. This style buckle is used to connect the breeching (strap around the horse’s hindquarters) to the breeching straps or shafts of a carriage. It serves as an anchor point and is a crucial component of the harness braking system and securing holdbacks which prevents the carriage from running up on the horse paticularly on downward slopes.

Spectacle Buckles– Spectacle buckles are a type of double looped buckles with oval loops. They are known as “spectacle” buckles due to their double loop, oval frame which resembles a pair of spectacles or eyeglasses. This buckle style first emerged in the middle of the 14th century.  The height of their popularity was between the years 1450 to 1650. They were made from a range of materials, from plain copper alloy and iron to more expensive options like silver, pewter, or those decorated with paste jewels.  These buckles served a functional purpose for securing straps but were also ornamental in design. Many examples feature decorative elements such as stylized floral designs, trefoils, and engraved patterns.

Campaign Buttons Continued…

The 1840 political campaign button pictured depicting an eagle clutching a key perched on a safe with a female figure was issued to support incumbent Democratic President Martin Van Buren. This imagery was a direct attack on the Whig Party’s William Henry Harrison and their “Log Cabin and Hard Cider” campaign. The female figure representing Liberty or Justice next to the “safety” vault was meant to convey that the Democratic approach was the true guardian of the nation’s wealth and liberty. The safe symbolized the secure storage of government funds, while the American eagle stood for national strength.

Center Boss One Piece Button– Buttons with a center boss or a raised, central decorative hub. This style button was popular during the 19th century. They also often feature floral patterns or stylized decorative elements.

Crown Icon Backmark– Beginning around 1800, backmarks often included icons such as crowns. It is believed that the stylized crown icon was used to symbolize superior or royal quality. The emblem often accompanied quality assurance text like Treble Gilt or Standard Coulor. Buttons with crown icon backmarks are typically of British origin. Between 1800 and the 1820’s, the United States lacked the mass-production capabilities required to meet demand for brass buttons. Millions of buttons were manufactured in industrial hubs like Birmingham, England, and shipped across the Atlantic to the United States. Detectorists in the U.S. commonly find buttons with crown icon backmarks.

Drilled Eye Shank– Unlike wire-loop shanks that are soldered onto the back, drilled shanks are molded or cast as a continuous part of the button body. A hole is drilled directly through the solid extension that was cast on the back of a button to create the sewing loop. You can find drilled eye shanks on pewter, copper alloy, and tombac buttons. A button with a drilled, integral shank is typically very old, often dating to the 18th century (1700’s) or early 19th century (1800 to 1820’s).

Eagle “C” Button– These branch specific buttons were issued with the letter “C” embossed on the eagle’s shield to denote Cavalry service during the 19th century. They were made in various sizes, such as coat and cuff buttons.

Eagle “I” Button– Eagle letter “I” buttons featuring an eagle and shield with the letter “I” for Infantry, were primarily used on US Army uniforms from the 1830’s through the Civil War era.

Eagle Icon Backmark– In the early 1800’s the United States relied heavily on British manufacturers for uniform and civilian buttons. The War of 1812 created anti-British sentiment amongst Americans. It has been suggested that British makers cleverly stamped the American eagle icon onto the back of their flat brass buttons to appeal to American buyers. Some individuals have suggested that the eagle icon backmark instead indicates that these one-piece flat buttons were rather made in America. Given what we know about transatlantic trade and button manufacturing from this time period, as well as the fact that many of these eagle icon buttons have been found in England and Canada by metal detectorists, it is much more plausible that these one piece buttons with the eagle icon backmark were British-made pieces intended for the American market.

Fire Department (FD) Button– Two-piece brass buttons on Fire Department (FD) uniforms date back to around the mid 1800’s. These buttons were introduced as a durable and decorative upgrade to the older one-piece cast buttons used previously. The design on the button pictured features a raised “F.D.” center surrounded by a civic laurel wreath. These buttons were manufactured in a larger size for jackets and smaller size for sleeves, pocket flaps, or uniform hats.

Firmin and Sons Backmarks Timeline:

1770s – 1790s: Marked simply as Samuel Firmin.

1794 – 1812: Stamped as Firmin & Westall, operating at 153 The Strand.

1812 – 1824: Stamped as Firmin & Langdale, typically displaying a “Strand” address.

1824 – 1836: Marked as Firmin & Sons or Firmin at 153 Strand.

1837 – 1838: A very brief 18-month window stamped R. Firmin & King (Robert Firmin & William King).

1839 – 1849: Stamped as P & S Firmin (Philip and Samuel Firmin), often incorporating a “13 Conduit St” or “Strand” address.

1850 – 1875: Stamped Firmin & Sons with address variations including 153 Strand & 13 Conduit St.

1875 – 1894: Stamped Firmin & Sons 153 Strand London (the Conduit St. location was phased out).

1894 – 1899: Stamped with the address 47 Warwick St. London or 108-109 St. Martin’s Lane.

1905 – 1915: Backmarks during this period explicitly feature St. Martin’s Lane.

1915 – 1968: Stamped with the Cork Street London address, which served as their sole London headquarters during this window.

General Service Eagle Button– A standard United States Army uniform button utilized from the year 1854 to 1902. The buttons feature a spread eagle clutching a shield and often with an olive branch and arrows. In 1854 the US Army formally adopted standardized convex brass buttons featuring an eagle holding a shield for all enlisted personnel. During the Civil War era these buttons were mass produced in various sizes (coat, vest, and cuff). The buttons is representative of the US Goverment rather than a specific regiment or branch.

Gilt Backmarks– English button manufactures began stamping Gilt, Double Gilt, and Treble Gilt on the reverse side of a metal flat buttons to denote the quality of the gold plating. These markings were heavily used between 1790 and 1840 and helped consumers verify the quality of the gold gilt applied to each button. The Metal Button Act of 1796 was passed by the British Parliament to prevent manufacturers from using deceptive terms on buttons which had little to no actual gold plating. To legally use the backmark word “Gilt,” the button was required to have a specific legal minimum of gold applied, at least 1/96th of an ounce per gross of 1-inch buttons. Marks like “Double Gilt” or “Treble Gilt” were stamped to show the buyer that the button had twice or three times the legal minimum of gold plating.

Iron Flat Buttons– Iron is a heavy, malleable, and highly magnetic metal. It rusts easily when exposed to moisture and oxygen. Metal flat buttons were rarely made entirely of iron because it was prone to rust. Instead, Iron was primarily used for button shanks or in more recent times for the backside of two piece buttons. The button faces were typically made from more durable alloys like brass, pewter, or copper.

Omega Shank– This type of shank is shaped like the Greek letter Omega and soldered onto the back of one-piece flat disc buttons. It is like an Alpha shank, but the Omega shanks have feet. Buttons with this style shank are typically made from copper alloy. The shanks are also usually made from copper alloy and occasionally from iron. This style shank was primarily used on the back of buttons, manufactured after the year 1800. It was especially common on heavy 19th century buttons to keep them flat and firm.

Prince of Wales Plumes Icon Backmarks– Beginning around 1800, British Button manufactures began stamping the Prince of Wales Plumes or Feathers trademark icons on the back side of their buttons. The iconic three-plume emblem was widely used by prominent British button makers. It was primarily used as a pictorial quality mark and often appears next to quality marks such as “Best Quality” or “Best Plated”. Historians believe the emblem was used to signify the superior gilt quality of the buttons. The Prince of Wales plume backmark can also be found on the back of some Victorian era British manufactured buttons as well. Jennens & Co. of London added the mark to the back of their buttons starting in 1860 to proudly display their royal patronage.

Quality Marks and Their Meanings–

Best / Extra Fine/ Superfine Quality: Generic, highly inflated marketing terms intended to assure the buyer of the button’s premium make and durability.

Gilt / Double Gilt / Treble Gilt: Means the button was treated with a mercury and gold mixture. “Treble gilt” implied the process was repeated three times for maximum thickness and quality.

Imperial/ Imperial Standard: A quality rating typically found on flat brass or gilt buttons from the 1810’s to the 1830’s, the mark was used by various British and American manufacturers to indicate a high-grade product.

Orange Colour / Rich Orange: Refers to a highly desired shade of gold plating commonly stamped on buttons in the 1800’s.

Plated: Usually indicates the button was silver-plated rather than gold-plated.

Standard / Extra Quality: Mid-to-late 19th-century grading marks used to separate premium uniform and civilian buttons from cheaper, bulk-produced alternatives.

Warranted Superior / Extra Rich: Generic marketing quality marks introduced during the 19th century to denote a high-quality brass alloy, gold coating, or secure shank.

Rice & Duval (New York)– Rice & Duval were an elite merchant tailoring firm operating in prime Manhattan locations such as 236-238 Fifth Avenue and 509 Fifth Avenue during the late 19th century and into the 1920’s. The firm specialized in premium officer uniforms, particularly for the U.S. Navy and Naval Militia. While Rice & Duval designed and assembled the uniforms, the metal buttons themselves were outsourced to dedicated button makers. This is an example of a button with a Merchant backmark. Merchant backmarks feature the name of a retail store, tailor, or wholesaler, rather than the name of the company that physically manufactured the button. Merchant backmarks served as a form of retail branding.

Scovill Manufacturing Button Company– Scovill button backmarks are stamped manufacturer marks. Scovill is one of the oldest manufacturing companies in the United States, tracing its roots back to 1802. The company was officially incorporated as Scovill Manufacturing Company in 1850. They supplied vast quantities of uniform buttons for the U.S. military. The Scovill Manufacturing Company, based in Waterbury, Connecticut, evolved its backmarks as the company’s official name and stamping techniques changed over the years. Examining the text and abbreviation style stamped on the back of the button can help to provide a reliable timeline for identification and determining the age of a given button.

USA Continental Army General Service Button– The USA Continental Army General Service button is one of the most iconic military relics from the American Revolutionary War. These uniform buttons feature the letters “USA” intertwined in a classic monogram design across the face of the button. They served as a unified symbol for General George Washington’s troops. Most USA general service buttons were cast in pewter or white metal. Variants in design style include rimmed or pie-crust borders, dotted edges, and completely borderless variations depending on the year and foundry.

W. Wallis (Birmingham, England)– William Wallis was a prominent 18th-to-19th-century button manufacturer based in Birmingham, England. Wallis buttons were primarily manufactured between the late 1790’s and 1828. During this era, Birmingham was the global hub of the gilt button industry. Manufacturers used backmarks not only to identify themselves but also to stamp quality marketing claims about the thickness of the gold plating. W. Wallis buttons typically feature backmark variations such as W. Wallis Extra Rich, William Wallis Extra Fine, W. Wallis Orange Gilt, or W. Wallis Warranted.

Waterbury Button Company– Waterbury Button Company is the oldest continuously operating button manufacturer in the United States. It was founded by Aaron Benedict in Waterbury, Connecticut. In 1812, Aaron Benedict bought up every brass kettle, pan, and pot he could find and established a rolling mill to make buttons for the US armed forces. When Benedict ran out of brass, he turned to pewter.

Wellington Flat Buttons– 19th century British commemorative buttons that were issued to celebrate the Duke of Wellington’s victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo fought on Sunday June 18, 1815. These one piece brass flat buttons commonly feature a blank, flat front and a “Wellington” backmark often alongside the words “treble gilt”.

Blue Willow Pattern– Blue Willow is an iconic blue on white pattern. It originated in England around the year 1780. There have been many variations of the pattern made over the years. It is said that the pattern tells a tragic love story of Kwang-se, a wealthy mandarin’s daughter, and Chang, her father’s poor clerk. They fall in love, elope, and run away in order to be together. Kwang- se father, Tso Ling, was furious when he found. Tso Ling would not stand for this betrayal and ordered them both killed. As legend has it, the Gods transformed the lovers into turtle doves. If you look closely at the pattern you will notice several features of the story. There is a house where the daughter was said to be kept a prisoner,, the wealthy Mandarin’s home, a fence built to keep the lovers apart, the daughter, lover and father on the bridge, a boat which was used by the lovers to escape, a willow tree of course,, the island where the lovers escaped to, and the two lovers flying off together. The pattern is a distinctive and elaborate chinoiserie style pattern featuring Chinese-inspired motifs. The patterns intricate decorative edge or borders were decorated with geometric patterns and stylized floral elements, scrolling, and small dots or circles. The classic, “standard” Willow design commonly includes an outer decorative border and an inner border that frames the central scene. The pattern was created as an affordable, mass-produced alternative to expensive imported Chinese porcelain for the English middle class and became a staple of Victorian dining. There were approximately over 400 manufactures in Great Britain whom manufactured the Blue Willow pattern.

Flow Blue– Flow blue is a 19th century blue on white pottery style that is characterized as having an intentionally blurred or smudged design. The hazy appearance was created by adding chemical agents which caused the blue underglaze to flow during the firing process. Flow Blue pieces often featured Asian inspired floral or scenery patterns. It was popular from about 1830 to 1920.

English Delftware-A type of tin glazed earthenware, produced in Britain from the mid-16th century until the late 18th century. This It was developed as a more affordable alternative to expensive Chinese porcelain. It features a soft porous often beige or pinkish clay body covered in a white opaque lead tin glaze. Blue and white was the standard color however English potters also used a “polychrome” palette of yellow, green, orange, and manganese purple. Common design motifs include Chinoiserie and Chinese Landscapes, Floral and Botanical Patterns, Pastoral and Nature Scenes, and Geometric and Border Patterns such as Blue-Dash and Corner Motifs.

The tin glaze is brittle often showing crazing (fine cracks) or pinholes (small surface pits).

Pearlware-Pearlware was produced in England from around 1780 to the mid-1800’s. Pearlware is a type of refined earthenware characterized by a white-to-faintly-blue-tinted lead glaze caused by the addition of cobalt to the glaze. Pearlware was frequently decorated with blue transfer printed designs, underglaze painted colors, and shell edged ware typically in blue or green.

Transfer Printing (Blue on White)– The transfer printing process, involves transferring a design from an engraved copper plate to a unglazed earthenware ceramic vessel, after an initial firing. The process was developed around the year 1760 but not perfected until many years later. An artist’s drawing was engraved onto a copper plate first. Then, color made from inorganic metallic oxides mixed with oils were rubbed into the hot copper plate, and the excess was carefully scraped off. When the copper plate cooled, specially prepared tissue paper was placed on the copper plate. The paper and copper plate were run through a press, forcing the paper into contact. The copper plate was then heated once more which dried the tissue paper and soften the color. Then, the paper was carefully pulled away from the engraving. Sections of the tissue paper print were cut out and positioned onto the bisque fired ceramic vessel. The print was rubbed down with a brush lubricated with soft soap. Once the design was affixed then the item was immersed in water and the tissue paper was removed. The piece was then fired first at a low temperature to “harden on” the print. This allowed the maker to dip the item in glaze without damaging the design before the final firing. Blue on white was the classic color due to the stability of cobalt underglaze. Blue on white transfer-printed earthenware was produced in vast quantities during the first half of the 1800’s.

Transfer Printing (Green)– Green ceramic color was historically achieved through metal oxide glazes. Copper oxide produced a wide range of green glazes, from light green to turquoise depending on the acidity of the glaze. Iron produced green tones known as celadon, jade-like green color, ranging from pale green to blue-green and grey. Green transferware was most popular between 1830 to 1860. Green transferware, as a part of the broader Victorian era’s demand for varied, colorful tableware, often featured pastoral, romanticized landscape imagery.

Splatter/Sponge Design– These ceramic pieces feature a distinct mottled or speckled design. Splatter and sponge ceramic ware originated in England, during the late 18th century. Initially it was created by blowing colored glaze through a pipe. It evolved into using sponges to create designs in the early 19th century. The splatter techniques created a fine, speckled look, while sponge applied method created a thicker, textured, or stamped pattern. This pattern peaked in popularity between 1800 and 1850 as durable, affordable tableware.

Mermaid Coin– In 1749, the British Royal Mint struck a massive quantity of copper coinage. King George II authorized shipment of thousands of these copper farthings and halfpennies to the American colonies. A British naval vessel named the HMS Mermaid brought these newly minted coins to Boston. The ship launched in 1749 and safely delivered these copper coins to Boston in the year 1750. The delivery consisted of over 420,000 farthings and 800,000 halfpennies, all dated 1749. At the time, there was a massive shortage of official British currency in the Americas, and these Mermaid coins became the backbone of daily exchange and commerce in the colonies.

Pine Tree Shilling– These were colonial issued coins that were in circulation in the Thirteen Colonies during the 17th century. The obverse features a pine tree in the center enclosed within a beaded circle. The obverse has the inscription “MASATHVSETS IN”. The reverse shows the year “1652”, the denomination “XII” (for 12 pence), and the lettering “NEW ENGLAND AN DOM”. Records indicate that Pine Tree Shillings were minted between the years 1667 – 1682. However, practically every Pine Tree Shilling produced bore the date 1652.

Canadian Large Cent– Canadian large cents were produced between 1858 and 1920. The portrait on the front of the coin changed based on the reigning British monarch at the time of issue. Queen Victoria was featured on the earliest large cents from 1858 to 1901. King Edward VII was featured on the coin from 1902 to 1910. King George V was the final monarch featured on the coin from 1911 to 1920 before the coin’s size was reduced in 1920. The reverse design typically featured a maple leaf wreath surrounding and the denomination “ONE CENT”.

Clock Winding Key– The key winds the clock by pulling up weights via chains, cords or internal springs. These keys were essential and often specific to the clockmaker. The key allowed the owners to wind the clock so it continued to keep time.

Drawer Drop Pulls- Drawer drop pulls are a distinctive type of hardware where the handle hangs vertically and can be lifted to pull the drawer open. The items pictured are the pendant section or part of the drawer drop pull. These “pendant” style pulls came in a variety of shapes and often featured a swivel joint that allowed the drawer handle to move. This style drawer pulls were ideal for smaller drawers. They are frequently found broken or detached.

Teardrop-shaped drawer drop pulls were extremely popular and are primarily associated with two distinct historical time periods: the William & Mary period from 1680–1730 and the Renaissance Revival / Late Victorian era from 1870’s–1890’s.

Hutchinson Bottle Stopper– Charles Hutchinson invented and patented the Hutchinson bottle stopper in 1879 as a replacement for cork bottle stoppers. It was a wire and rudder device that lived inside the bottle neck, unlike modern style caps that sit on top. It was the standard closures for soda bottles until the early 20th century. Production ended around the year 1912 after being replaced by more sanitary and cheaper crown-style caps.

Slate Roofing Tacks– Around the turn of the 20th century, slate was the premier roofing material in the United States. Slate roofing tacks were designed to hold slate tiles firmly without cracking them. These were driven through the slate and bent over on the underside to secure the tile. The clinching method, bending the shank, was a standard practice to prevent the slate from sliding. These date in age to the early 1900’s.

Shield Equestrian Ornaments with the Prince of Wales Plumes– The Prince of Wales plumes or Prince of Wales’s feathers is the heraldic badge of the heir apparent to the British throne. It consists of three white ostrich feathers emerging from a gold coronet, with a ribbon bearing the German motto “Ich dien” which means “I serve”. The symbol is traditionally traced back to Edward, the Black Prince and the eldest son of King Edward III in the 14th century. Aside from being the personal badge of the heir to the British throne, it also frequently was used to symbolize Wales itself. The Royal Welch Fusiliers, formerly the 23rd Regiment of Foot, adopted the Prince of Wales’s feathers as a core regimental emblem after the year 1714, when George I conferred the title of “The Prince of Wales’s Own Royal Regiment of Welch Fuzeliers” upon them. Many examples have been unearthed by detectorists in the United States. These Prince of Wales plumes shields are notably found in colonial-era sites.

Religious Medallions– symbolic items used across various faiths to express devotion, seek protection, and commemorate spiritual milestones. Religious medals have a long history originating in early Christianity. The most common religious medallions are the Miraculous medal, St Christopher, St. Benedict, St. Joseph, Guardian Angel, and Patron Saints. Modern Era (1900s–Present) religious medals are made mostly of aluminum, pewter, or silver-plated brass. Vintage and antique religious medals (1700s–1800s) are more often cast in copper alloy or made of solid silver.

Scholastic Achievement Award Selz Chicago Liberty Bell Medal-These awards were commissioned by Maurice (Morris) Selz and later J. Harry Selz, of the prominent Chicago footwear company Selz-Schwab Shoe Company. These medals were awarded to students for demonstrating proficiency in scholarship and deportment or good behavior. The program spanned several decades from 1887 into the 1920’s. It served as a widespread educational incentive program throughout Midwestern public schools.

Elongated Coins– A coin that has been flattened or stretched and embossed with a new design. They serve as inexpensive, personalized souvenirs and commemorative tokens. The machines that create them can be found in amusement parks, at zoos, museums, and other tourist landmarks throughout the world these days. The first elongated coins historians believe were created at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago featuring designs from the fair. Prior to the year 1965, elongated coins were largely, though not exclusively, produced at fairs or expositions.

Harvard Automatic Machine Company Lucky Tokens– Harvard Automatic Machine Company local tokens are vintage aluminum “lucky coin” commemorative tokens. They were personalized souvenirs created in vending machines prevalent at amusement parks, boardwalks, and penny arcades from the 1920’s through the 1950’s in the US. They are typically 33mm in diameter. Originating in Jamestown, New York, these aluminum tokens often called “lucky tokens” or “metal typers,” were stamped with custom letters or personalized messages. These tokens are often circular with a serrated edge and frequently featured a cutout such as a 6-sided or “lucky” star and a stamped design in the center, such as an American flag, four leaf clover, or the word “Lucky”. They came in metallic finishes, including natural silver, brilliant gold, red, blue, and green.

Bent Coin Love Tokens– Bent coin love tokens or benders are historic, intentionally bent coins, often silver, given as tokens of affection, promises, or for good luck. These coins were highly popularized in the UK especially, during the 16th-19th centuries. A “twice-bent” coin or bent into a wave/S-shape was given by a suitor to a woman to express affection, intent, and love. The bending process was considered a form of personal sacrifice, making the coin unusable in commerce to signify a permanent, sacred promise.

Political Abraham Lincoln Presidential Campaign Tokens– There are hundreds of distinct varieties of Abraham Lincoln political tokens, primarily from his 1860 and 1864 campaigns. They were frequently similar in size to a cent, featured Lincoln’s likeness, campaign slogans like “Millions for Freedom,” and often referenced the Union.

Political Wendell Willkie Presidential Campaign Token– The 1940 “Open the Gates of Prosperity” political token is a notable piece of memorabilia from Wendell Willkie’s campaign against FDR. It frequently features the slogan “Open the Gates of Prosperity with Wendell Willkie” on one side and “Token of Belief in Wendell Willkie” on the other.

Reader’s Digest History of the U.S. Presidents Tokens: Benjamin Harrison – The Benjamin Harrison 23rd President token, often referred to as a “Backbone Ben” token, is a mid-20th-century souvenir or commemorative medal rather than a 19th-century campaign item.

Car Wash Trade Token– A metallic, coin-like object used in place of legal tender at a Car wash facility. These tokens often hold no actual cash value but serve as a prepaid token for a specific service. These were typically produced in the 1960’s-1990’s as the self-service car wash industry grew.

Drinking Cup Token– An individual drinking cup token is a brass trade token minted in the early 20th century by the Individual Drinking Cup Company. They were used in public places like train stations and in schools and offices to buy a single use folded paper water cup from a vending machine. The Individual Drinking Cup Company was incorporated in New York in 1910. They sought to ban the highly unsanitary common drinking cup, a public ladle or glass shared by everyone.

Pool and Billiard Halls Trade Tokens– These tokens were good for games of pool, drinks, or services within the establishment. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, many billiard rooms and pool halls used tokens to manage table time and payments when low denomination currency was in short supply.

Automobiles– Toy Automobiles appeared shortly after the invention of real cars. The earliest models from the late 1800’s through 1920 were often simple, handcrafted, and expensive. Beginning in the 1920’s companies like Tootsietoy began casting metal miniature cars. Toy automobiles were an extremely popular toy for children throughout the 1900’s. After World War II manufacturers began utilizing new lighter materials like plastics and they refined their diecast techniques to make cars more durable and detailed. In 1953, Lesney Products released the first Matchbox cars, specifically designed to fit inside a matchbox. Toy cars are still a popular toy for children today.

Chess Game Pieces– People have been playing chess for more than 1,500 years. The game has evolved over the years from an ancient military strategy tool into a competitive global sport. Chess likely began as Chaturanga in India during the 6th century. The name Chaturanga means four divisions and represented the military units of the time: infantry (pawns), cavalry (knights), elephants (bishops), and chariots (rooks). The game spread to Persia, where it was called Shatranj. This is where the term “checkmate” originated from. The Persian phrase “Shah Mat” translates to “the king is dead” or “the king is helpless”. Chess reached Europe, in Spain and Italy, roughly around the year 1000 CE. Around the year 1475, the rules underwent a radical shift in Europe. The Queen which previously was a weak piece that could only move one square diagonally, became the most powerful piece on the board. The Bishop, formerly an elephant with a limited leaping move, gained its full diagonal range. And pawns were granted the ability to move two squares on their first move. Before the mid-1800’s, chess sets varied wildly. In 1849, the Staunton pattern became standard for tournament play. Chess is still an extremely popular game today.

Firearms– Metal toy firearms were particularly popular from the 1870’s onward. Toy guns were common childhood playthings that mirrored the tools of adult life. Early models were often made from cast iron. Popular models included revolver cap guns. Following World War II, cast iron was replaced by lighter zinc alloys. Die-cast metal cap guns reached peak popularity in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The 1950’s and 1960’s are often referred to as the “Golden Age” of toy guns, a period fueled by the massive popularity of TV Westerns and spy shows.

Little Orphan Annie Decoder– The Little Orphan Annie decoder was a functional cipher device released annually between the years 1935 to 1940, as a promotional toy for the Little Orphan Annie radio show, sponsored by Ovaltine. Children used the rotatable, numbered, and lettered badges to decode secret messages broadcast at the end of each episode. The badges were generally brass, featured the year, a rotatable disk, and a safety pin to wear it.

Miniature Household Items– In the 1700’s and 1800’s toys were primarily designed for practical play. They served as tools to prepare children for their future adult roles. Miniature metal household items served as both playthings for wealthy children and educational tools to prepare young girls for managing a household. Pewter was a common material for children’s tea sets and cups during the 19th century. Miniature sad irons were often made of solid cast iron.

Play Money– Play money coins were primarily designed as educational tools for children. Aluminum was frequently used to make play money because it was lightweight and inexpensive. Play money is often stamped with the words “PLAY”, “TOY”, “COPY”.

Pooping Dog Figurine– A popular novelty from the 1930’s and 1940’s. These cast metal figures were designed to be used with “Black Snake” or “Pharaoh’s Serpent” fireworks. You would place a small firework pellet inside, underneath the dog’s behind and light it. As the firework burned, a long, ash-like snake would grow out of the dog’s rear end, creating the pooping effect.

Spinners and Put & Take Tops– Metal Put & Take tops or teetotums are small, multi-sided, spinning top that were used as a die for games. While most prevalent in the early 1900’s, these metal tops were also popular during the 1800’s serving as portable gambling games in pubs and homes. The “Put and Take” terminology peaked in popularity during the 1920’s. The game has roots that go back to Roman times.

Percussion Caps– A percussion cap is a small brass or copper cylinder with one closed end. A small amount of explosive powder is contained in the cap which explodes when it is struck. Percussion caps were developed in the early 1800’s as a reliable single use ignition device for muzzle loader firearm locks. They replaced flintlock mechanisms, improving both firing speed and reliability.