Far from an expert, but I do have Alberts book on  military buttons. The
excellsior button was used during the civil war, and quite possibly
before. I am at work now and dont have access to my book. A backmark
would definately narrow down the manufacture date. I will take a look
when I get home and see if I can find the first reference too this type
button. It is a two piece I assume? If I recall the 2 piece buttons were
first used in the early 1840's, before that they were mainly 1
piece(flat buttons)........Jim

Densmore wrote:
>
> Any military uniform or button experts out there? When was the design of
> button used in the Civil War by NY troops adopted. This is the design of
> an eagle on globe, on a shield with the US and NY arms, with thirteen
> stars above, and Excellsior below.