Any Idea What This Old Pinback Button Is?

[blazebird]

Italian or Mexican?

[argon38]

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@blazebird wrote:

Italian or Mexican?

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Well that part is easy, if you look closely it says Mexico under the portrait

No idea who it is, though.

[Anonymous]

Is that a floating cap/hat above is head? Maybe a Fraternal group. Can you pick out any detail on his necklace?

[blazebird]

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@argon38 wrote:

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@blazebird wrote:

Italian or Mexican?

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Well that part is easy, if you look closely it says Mexico under the portrait

No idea who it is, though.

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Well duh, LOL!

[blazebird]

Can't make out anything.

[argon38]

I think the cap is a "liberty cap" - it featured on Mexican coins as a republican symbol, surrounded by the sun's rays:

https://coinquest.com/cgi-bin/cq/coins.pl?coin=5349

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22mexico%22++%22liberty+cap%22+-fungus&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ve...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrygian_cap

[blazebird]

Yes!!  Who is this man though?

[Anonymous]

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Leader of the Mexican War for Independence.

(This is my best guess)

[blazebird]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Leader of the Mexican War for Independence.

(This is my best guess)

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Yes!  Thank you.  So, was this a political button?

[argon38]

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@blazebird wrote:

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So, was this a political button?

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It certainly doesn't date from his lifetime (he died in 1811). My guess would be that it's an old commemorative item worn at Mexico's annual independence day celebrations.

[debora_34_]

I suspect it dates to 1910 when the centennial of Hidalgo's revolt was celebrated.   Here's another similar one.

Debora

[blazebird]

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@debora_34_ wrote:

I suspect it dates to 1910 when the centennial of Hidalgo's revolt was celebrated.   Here's another similar one.

Debora

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A centennial makes sense.  This button could easily be that old.