CRESCENT-SHAPED US VOLUNTEER MILITIA HAT PLATE 1825-1845

CRESCENT-SHAPED US VOLUNTEER MILITIA HAT PLATE 1825-1845

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$595.00

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Item Code: 1273-115

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Crescent-shaped die-struck silvered copper hat plate measuring 4-1/4” wide and 4-1/4” tall, featuring a US 1821 pattern spread-winged eagle with shield, arrows and olive branch facing the heraldic right, viewer’s left. Fitted on the reverse with soldered iron wires, perhaps long loops that were cut in the middle. This is shaped like a gorget, but the crescent moon was long associated with hunters and, in the military, with jagers and light troops of various types, and among US militia these plates show up on the helmets of mounted units styling themselves “light dragoons,” the more dashing and independent cousins of “heavy cavalry” in European armies, essentially the mounted equivalent of light infantry versus the “heavy” infantry of the line.

This has no bends, cracks or breaks, very good detail, and an untouched patina with the silver slightly muted in tone and a few areas showing darker tarnish. Silver and white were branch of service colors for both infantry and mounted troops in the US army for quite some time and militia tended to follow suit, though in most cases adopting their own uniform regulations. This is a very scarce form of American hat plate. See Campbell & O’Donnell, Headgear Insignia, Figs. 641-644 for a few examples, including some still on helmets.   [sr][ph:L]

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