These rectangular eagle plates were introduced in 1851 for wear by officers and by enlisted men carrying swords. The latter included cavalrymen, artillerymen, infantry sergeants, and others. Officers purchased their own belts and plates and those commercial versions often feature fine die work, gilt finish, and silver wash to the wreath and stars. Those thin, refined finishes have usually worn off. The enlisted versions, like this one, featured separately applied wreaths of “German silver,” i.e. nickel silver, which was cheaper at the time, but ironically more robust, leading many novice collectors to assume they are officers’ plates.

This is the regulation enlisted pattern dating mid-war: the plate was increased in height to accommodate a wider enlisted sword belt and in a cost-cutting measure the wreath was made in one-piece, rather than three, ending below the eagle’s wings, rather than appearing to end above by using a separate piece on either end.

This example is in very good condition, with nice patina, and comes with its matching hasp. Both plate and hasp are numbered “370,” a “bench number” applied within the shop once they were filed and hand-fitted after the casting process, before being sent on to be mounted on a belt by leather workers.

This displays very nicely and is a key piece in a belt plate collection or display relating to one of the soldiers entitled to wear them. [sr] [ph:L]

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