Before the war New York followed US 1839 regulations in using a small oval belt plate of rolled brass with a lead solder fill securing a belt stud and hook for its infantry, but with the brass stamped SNY for State of New York instead of U.S. These were all likely struck by John Pittman, who also supplied plates to fellow contractors Dingee and Boyd & Sons. As with the US plates, these were worn on 1-½ inch wide buff leather waist belts. New York ordered 6,000 from Pittman in 1851; the Ordnance Department bought another 2,600 from Pittman in 1852 that went to the state under terms of the 1808 act for arming the militia; and Pittman likely supplied all the plates for another 2,500 waist belts ordered in 1854, among other orders. These plates remained regulation until the state, again following the federal lead, adopted the larger oval plates in 1858, though militia units often had their own regulations and these smaller plates are sometimes seen on early war volunteer troops.

This is a very good, non-excavated example 40 X 72mm with a sharp die strike, nice rim with no dings or dents, and nice even lead fill on the reverse securing the single arrowhead belt stud and the hook. The face has a medium brass tone with a couple of small brown age spots on the “N” and scattered small scratches, etc. See O’Donnell and Campbell’s extensive chapter on New York plates in American Military Belt Plates for more details and examples.    [sr] [ph:m]

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