Each of these buttons was hand made, and no two examples within any classification are exactly identical. 1740 officer's uniform. A s a means of categorizing these forms, each button typology has been assigned a nomenclature in a manner closely akin to the archaeological classification of such other prehistoric and historic artifacts as projectile points, ceramic wares, and beads. It is hoped that this method of organization will enable those interested in this subject area to more easily and efficiently communicate with one another when referring to any or all of the typologies illustrated and described here. Both types have flat, usually thick body profiles with steeply beveled outer edges and integrally cast shanks with drilled eyes.
Distribution is heavily focused in eastern Florida.
Examples of the octagonal subtype have been recovered from the 1733 Plate Fleet. Originally lightly gilded, many of these appear to have been made as connected elements that were snapped apart and filed smooth along connection edges after casting. Am rica, ca. Examples have also been recovered from Mexico, Panama, and Colombia. These are heavily concentrated in what once comprised Spanish West Florida, although it is probable that their distribution will ultimately prove to extend throughout a much wider geographic region.