Confederate Oval Virginia Militia Shoulder Belt Plate
ON LAYAWAY
Item: Confederate Oval Virginia Militia Shoulder Belt Plate
Construction: Rolled brass.
Condition: Very good, excavated, missing attachment pin. The plate has a light brown patina. One end has minor edge wear and small slit of approximently 3 mm in length. Visible on either end of the rear are areas of solder remnants where the attachment pin and loop were once affixed. There are no bends, cracks, or repairs.
Recovered: Spotsylvania County, VA area.
Approximate size: 62 x 82 mm.
Reference: Similar examples can be found in in the following Civil War reference books:
- "Excavated Artifacts from Battlefields and Campsites of The Civil War 1861 - 1865" by Stanley S. Phillips, page 34, items 5&6.
- "Confederate Belt Buckles and Plates, "Expanded Edition" by Steve E. Mullinax on page 241 as plate 444 (also found in first edition of same book on page 217, plate 401)
- "The Hammond Civil War Collection" by Mike O'Donnell & Howard Crouch on page 273.
See the above pages in the additional images.
Comments: According to "The Hammond Civil War Collection" by Mike O'Donnell & Howard Crouch, on page 273, "the state (Virginia) acquired around 10,000 of these oval ornaments from the Richmond shop of Mitchell & Tyler and well known New York military supplier, James S. Smith." Many of Smith's examples were stamped on the rear with "J. S. SMITH & SONS", however this one is not. This particular Virginia shoulder belt plate was acquired directly from the local Virginia digger. It will be an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War plate, buckle, or general relic collection.
- Product Code:
- PC11028
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