New York followed the US government’s lead in 1851 in introducing rectangular sword belt plates for officers and enlistedmen entitled to carry swords- NCOs, mounted troops, etc. These substituted “NY” in Old English letters within a wreath for the arms of the US, but had the same general form using an integral side bar for a belt loop (permitting the belt to pass through, loop back and adjust for size by a hook or buckle,) and a tongue on the reverse to engage a hasp attached to the other end of the belt. As was standard practice, plates for enlisted men were issued to them, but officers had to purchase their own from private makers, so there is a good deal of variety in the general pattern.

This shows separately both applied letters, wreath, and tongue on the reverse, where the enlisted versions were usually cast in one piece. The plate likely had a thin gilt finish to the body and silver wash to the letters and wreath, but these were usually very thinly applied, wore of easily in handling, and this shows at as untouched, muted, aged brass with some dark areas.

The plate was quality production. We note that not only does is use a finely crosshatched ground rather than a stippled pattern, but the wreath does not follow the NY regulations in using a wreath of laurel and palm leaves, but uses oak leaves and acorns  on the left and laurel and berries on the right. We are not sure if there is some special significance to this or not. The tongue is in place on the reverse. The reverse also bears a stamped “W W” that might be a maker’s or dealer’s mark, an owner’s initials or perhaps even a bench mark used to keep it with a hand-fitted hasp until both elements could be mounted on the officer’s belt.

These remained regulation for New York forces for time after the war as well, but generally followed the US practice after 1874 of using a separate belt loop mounted on the back of the plate rather than using the integral side bar as here.

This is a very nice example of a plate that offers a lot of subtle variations for the collector.  [sr][ph:L]

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