Fiona Steele and Jack Begley Unearth Ornate 1700s Button on Oak Island (Season 12, Episode 9)

In Season 12, Episode 9 of The Curse of Oak Island, titled “Brick by Brick” and originally aired on January 23, 2025, the excavation team returns to Lot 5, where archaeologist Fiona Steele leads a detailed investigation of a stone foundation believed to hold historic significance. She is joined by Rick Lagina, Gary Drayton, and later Jack Begley, who plays a pivotal role in uncovering a surprising relic.

During a metal detection scan, Gary identifies a non-ferrous target buried within the wall of the foundation. After careful excavation, the team retrieves an ornate copper button, visibly aged and bearing a floral or star-like pattern. Its small size and intricate design suggest it may have come from a military jacket or formal attire dating back to the late 1600s or early 1700s.

Back in the lab, archaeometallurgist Emma Culligan and archaeologist Laird Niven analyze the button using X-ray fluorescence mapping, which reveals an intricate layered flower pattern. The composition and craftsmanship hint at a British origin, and the presence of arsenic in the alloy supports an early manufacturing date.

The find resonates with previous discoveries on Lot 5, including Venetian trade beads and iron tools linked to Sir William Phips, the 17th-century English naval officer who is believed by some to have buried silver treasure from the Spanish ship Concepción. The button’s estimated date range makes it plausible that it could be tied to Phips or his contemporaries, including Freemason Captain Andrew Belcher.

While not definitive, the button adds a new layer to the mounting evidence that Lot 5 may have served as a repository or staging site for treasure-related activities on Oak Island. During its recovery, Gary Drayton identified the signal as non-ferrous, explaining that only three metals typically produce that sound: “copper, lead, or gold.” When Jack Begley unearthed the item, Laird Niven immediately noted its unusual form: “That’s a weird-looking button,” he remarked, while Jack observed, “It’s super ornate.”

Later, in the lab, Emma Culligan’s X-ray fluorescence scan revealed a detailed layered floral design, leading Gary to call it “one fancy button” with a distinctly “English-y feel.” Emma conservatively dated it to the 1700s, though Gary suggested it could plausibly date back to the late 1600s, especially given the button’s ornate structure and visible corrosion. Craig Tester called the discovery “amazing,” while Jack hoped its uniqueness would point toward a deeper story—perhaps one connected to the activities of Sir William Phips or Captain Belcher.

For Fiona and Jack, it marks another standout moment in an already clue-rich excavation season.

Cast Featured: Fiona Steele, Jack Begley, Gary Drayton, Rick Lagina, Craig Tester, Emma Culligan, Laird Niven