This is a very good, non-excavated example of the early-war enlisted sword belt plate issued to cavalrymen, artillerymen, and infantry sergeants. These are slotted for the belt and have an integrally cast belt hook on the back, integrally cast eagle motif on the face, sometimes improved by a secondary die strike, and an applied three-piece nickel silver wreath surrounding the eagle. The pattern was altered slightly in late 1861 to a taller plate for a wider belt and with a less expensive one-piece wreath ending below the eagle’s wing tips. This changed again in late 1863 to show the sun’s rays entirely surrounding the eagle and wreath. Officers’ plates were of the same design, but privately purchased, usually better detailing, and with the wreath integrally cast, but with a silver wash.

This is in very good condition, showing just some small age spots and slight staining around the wreath, which was simply “sweated” on. It also has a three-digit bench number, 689, on the reverse, used in the final finishing to keep it with its hand-fitted keeper to keep them together until placed on the waist belt.

This a classic Civil War waist belt plate and a basic piece in any buckle collection.  [sr][ph:m/L]

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