Original Civil War MILITIA EAGLE PANEL BELT PLATE Belt Plate (Non-Excavated) Certified By The Gettysburg Museum Of History

Original Civil War Militia Eagle Panel Belt Plate  (Non-Excavated) Certified By The Gettysburg Museum Of History. Panel plates,  called from the use of the central rectangular panel with scalloped corners setting off a central emblem against a frame border, came in around 1835 and became very popular in the 1840s, with an enthusiastic market among militia, fire companies, military schools, bands, etc. Authors O’Donnell and Campbell think this die strike may be a Horstmann product with the original die sunk in the 1850s. See their book Plates 403 and 404. An eagle with arrows and olive branch forms the central motif on the scalloped corner panel. The outer frame uses thirteen stars and a U.S. shield with branches extending on either side at bottom, all on a stippled ground. The condition is excellent, with no bends, dings, dents or cracks. It retains some subdued gilt finish in low lying areas and recesses, with the higher points having lost the gilt from rubbing, but now toned down to an aged brass patina. The applied belt loop and tongue bar are in place on the reverse, which has some gilt and some scattered dark spots. These rectangular plates were cast with the “arms of the U.S.,” an eagle with spread wings bearing a U.S. shield on its chest, clutching arrows and olive branch, and holding a ribbon reading, “E Pluribus Unum” in its beak. Underneath is a wreath and overhead are a band of stars with a cloud behind and rays of the sun above. The wreaths and stars are very nice and sharp.  The plate shows a very nice, stippled background as well as excellent detail to the eagle motif. Very good combat used condition. Early plate buckles this nice are very difficult to find and only come from old collections. 100% guaranteed to be authentic Gettysburg Museum certified, museum COA provided.   Also note when browsing our web site there are several pages of items, at the bottom of the list look for other page numbers. Scarce! A Nice used  belt plate. DO NOT MISS THIS!