How much is a George Washington button worth?

At the time of the nation’s first inauguration, military officers wore the buttons to show support for Washington. Only the elite could afford the buttons, which cost about six months’ salary. Today, they are even more valuable, especially as a set. Early estimates set the value near $7,500 each.

How many George Washington inaugural buttons are there?

Inaugural Copper Buttons Mount Vernon currently has 9 of these buttons on display at the estate. They were created to celebrate George Washington’s inauguration.

Who had the first presidential campaign buttons?

The history of campaign buttons is an interesting one. Abraham Lincoln was the first president to use these items strategically as a campaign tool in the 1860 presidential election. At that time, buttons were created by using a tintype or ferrotype photo process.

What did Washington wear to his inauguration?

At his first inauguration in 1789, he had worn a brown suit of broadcloth from Hartford, Connecticut, with eagle-adorned buttons. The attire reflected the complexity of the new idea of an American President. He chose to wear American-made clothing, rather than attire made in Britain.

Why are there so many political campaign buttons?

Just take a look at the political campaign buttons churned out to help either promote or discredit a century’s worth of prospective public servants.

When did the first political pinback button come out?

While political-themed pins have been around at least since the inauguration of George Washington in 1789, when boosters wore metal buttons engraved with a simple “GW,” the field really took off after the 1890s, when Amanda M. Lougee’s invention of a button covered with transparent celluloid took the campaign industry by storm.

When was the first mass production of campaign buttons?

As a novelty item, campaign buttons are part of the hobby of collecting and have significant value. The first mass production of metal buttons dates to the 1896 William McKinley campaign for president (shown below).

Why are there so many buttons at Mount Vernon?

The combination of Washington’s cipher and the chain of states visually testifies to the importance of a strong executive for the nation’s government. Mount Vernon currently has 9 of these buttons on display at the estate. They were created to celebrate George Washington’s inauguration.