This artifact is an excavated brass hat insignia commonly referred to as the "Jeff Davis" eagle device as worn on the crown of military headgear prior to and during the Civil War. Jefferson Davis was the creator of the design while he was a Mississippi Senator in Congress before the war. Worn on militia and early Federal caps, the device is made of rolled and stamped sheet brass and measures 2½" high b 1¾" wide. It features a spread-winged eagle with a pennant in its beak standing before a burst of sunrays. No dents or breaks. Piece wears a dark brown patina overall and is missing the small wire loops on the backside.