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4. Eagle Shoulder Belt Plate 1826 Pattern Variant - No Lead Backing

Eagle Shoulder Belt Plate 1826 Pattern Variant - No Lead Backing

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Item: Eagle Shoulder Belt Plate 1826 Pattern Variant - No Lead Backing
Use: Federal. Eagle plates, also known as breast plates, shoulder belt plates, and cross belt plates, were displayed on the belt that held the soldier's cartridge box. Eagle plates with two belt attachment loops were purely ornamental and proudly worn by Union soldiers with the belt slung over the shoulder and across the chest. See the additional images in this listing for an image showing its use. 
Construction: Die stamped thin sheet brass with continuous iron wire belt loop soldered on back.
Condition: Very good, excavated, loops missing. The brass front shows a smooth dark brown patina over a very well-defined eagle. The rim is fully intact and in good form. The rear retains a portion of its belt loop that includes rust build-up at the bars. The brass plate has no cracks, breaks, bends or repairs. (Note: the areas appearing shiny in the images of the plate are a result of the photography lighting as the brown color is consistent across the plate.)  
Recovered: Unknown
Approximate size: 65 mm.
Reference: An example of this type eagle plate is pictured in the following reference book:

• "American Military Belt Plates" by Michael J. O'Donnell and J. Duncan Campbell, second edition, on page 283, as plate 449.

See above page in additional images.

Comments: Excavated eagle plates manufactured without a lead backing are a rarity. Typically, when eagle plates are recovered without their lead backing, it is likely due to fire, I have concluded, after extensive research and examination of the plate offered here, that this is not the case. According to "American Military Belt Plates" by Michael J. O'Donnell and J. Duncan Campbell,

"A few regulation-style waist belt and cartridge box plates were made without lead filling. It is not clear who these were intended for, but they likely belonged to a state contract. The Ordnance Department prescribed lead filling after 1831. Identical examples have been excavated in 1861-1865 sites." 

This excavated eagle plate will be an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War accoutrement plate or general relic collection.

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Product Code:

PC408

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Price:

$365.00

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This brand is available for:

EAGLE PLATES , NEW ITEMS , ALL PLATES , FEDERAL RELICS