This regulation oval US belt plate comes from the collection of Syd Kerksis, well-known early collector, historian and author, and still has his collection envelope annotated with the find location and date of recovery. This is standard configuration 1839 pattern infantry belt plate of stamped rolled brass with a lead-solder filled back, but we note the fastening hooks are the arrowhead pattern introduced by some makers as early as 1862, but which saw general use more from 1863 onward. These are less refined than we see on many later war plates, but make it less certain this was lost at the time of the battle than by a soldier, perhaps a veteran of the fighting, visiting Shiloh or stopping at Pittsburg Landing afterward. The fighting had moved on, but US gunboats remained a presence on the river, and county histories indicate there was some trouble with armed bands in the area, so it was possible there were troops on the ground there at times after the battle.

The plate has well defined letters and a nice rim showing just a small ding at the lower left. It shows whitish brown around the recesses of the edge and the raised letters, but an even brown on the letters and areas between them and the edge. The reverse shows just minor shallow losses near the rim above the belt hook and to rear of the studs. Otherwise, it has a level back showing brown and white over gray.

This has a nice provenance to a well-known early relic hunter, collector and scholar.  [sr] [ph:m/L]

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