This is an excellent condition regulation Civil War officer’s sword belt plate with untouched medium brass patina front and back with no modern polishing, age spots or verdigris. The integral belt loop on the side is not bent or distorted. The belt hook on the back is in place. The die work is impressive and the detailed arms of the U.S.- the eagle, shield, arrows and olive branch, wreath, stars, E Pluribus Unum ribbon scroll and sunbeams – are distinct, crisp, and in high relief.

This pattern was authorized in 1851 for sword belts, which meant not only those of officers, but also enlisted cavalry and light artillerymen, and infantry NCOs who might be wearing a sword. Officers’ plates were commercially manufactured and privately purchased and , like this one, usually show much finer die work, and were usually given a thin gilt finish with a silver wash on some elements, like the wreath. As here, this usually wore off in short order from handling and use, but the quality of die work is unaffected. Enlisted plates usually show much less care in the die work and finishing and as a cost saving measure the wreaths in the design were made of “German,” i.e. nickel, silver and simply “sweated” on the face of the plate under the eagle. When still in place, these wreathes usually retain their shiny color with the paradoxical result that they often have a superficially fancier look than an officer’s plate and are often mistaken for one by the novice.

These plates were fitted by running one end of the belt through the side bar and back along the inside where it could be adjusted for length by buckle. The belt hook on the reverse would latch into a brass hasp fixed in place on the other end of the belt. The belt hook here is of medium width. On enlisted plates the width of the hook is sometimes used as an indicator of date, but with officers’ plates it was up to the individual maker, most of whom knew from the get-go it added stability.

We occasionally see photographs of an enlisted man who has gone to the extra length of privately purchasing a nicer plate like this (and a better than issue quality belt,) but this is the regulation belt plate for every officer from second lieutenant right up to general. This is a quality plate in strong condition that would dress up an officer’s display and is a key piece in Civil War buckle collection. [sr][ph:L]

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