Relicman Sales Catalog, Plates, Page1.

	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway.
	Winchester, Virginia USA. Civil War buckles & plates bought and sold. relicman.com.
	This page updated May 09, 2013.

Relicman sales listing, buckles and plates of the Civil War, for sale,
Please refer to Relicman stock number when ordering.

All items listed are authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.
Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.

P1754. Kentucky Military Institute buckle.

Kentucky Military Institute was founded in 1845. This is the early pattern thin brass stamped, solder filled, brass hooks similar to those found on panel plates of the 1840's or 1850's. Dug plate has clean appearance, some bends, some rim damage, these plates are thin, solder filling is partial, tongue present other hooks are missing, rare plate. Recovered: Farmdale, Kentucky by Kenny Copelin, this is site of the school. Plate measures 54mm x 75mm approx (rim damage).
Ref: Mullinax (Expanded Edition), plate 264. $2,500.

P1799. Eagle round shoulder plate, pattern 465.

Use of the round shoulder plate was approved with the regulation of 1826, most were manufactured 1850's through end of the Civil War. Designed as adornment only for the shoulder strap, the plate was die struck on thin brass sheet, solder filled, wire loop hooks. Die pattern depicts eagle's left wing with small ruffles, three long straight feathers each progressively longer, tails of arrows are long and dense. Plate is configured with two iron loop hooks for the enlisted soldier. Dug plate, both hooks intact. Recovered: Hills Dam, in Virginia, 1995.
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell plate 465. $150.

P1841. Eagle sword waist plate, eagle with applied wreath, pattern 665, (number "29")

Use of the rectangle sword waist plate was approved with the regulation of 1851 to be worn by officers carrying swords, and enlisted cavalry. Most were manufactured 1850's through end of the Civil War. The plate was made of cast brass, eagle is integral to the casting, wreath is applied. The eagle faces right, bold rays above the banner and around the wreath, 13 stars, six above the banner, two above banner tail, two left of the eagle's head and three to the right, graceful shield bears stripes with weak stars. A low spot was cast into the back to even the thickness behind the shield, even with this improvement the detail in the shield is weak. The narrow tongue is integral to the casting, thinner tip is bent, intended to fasten to a separate brass keeper. Silver wreath is soldered in one piece below the wing tips. Bench number was used to assist assembly. Plate measures: 55.5mm x 87mm, approx. Nondug plate, with wreath, hooks and original bend. Soldier initials are scratched onto the back.
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 665. $375.

P1892. Louisiana rectangle belt plate, pelican feeding her young, stamped and solder filled, southern wartime manufacture.

Buckle depicts the state seal of Louisiana, a pelican feeding her young, intended for Louisiana units. This plate was likely made in New Orleans near the beginning of the war and before the city fell in 1862. This pattern features a pelican in a relaxed position feeding her young, surrounded by a wreath and stars, plain background, with an outer border. Plate is stamped on heavy brass sheet, solder filled, hooks were made from scraps and individually soldered into place over the solder back. Stamping quality can vary considerably with this pattern, this due to variation of the stamping pressure applied and quality of the materials. The corners are sometimes clipped or rounded, this was probably done in the field, this big rectangle plate would undoubtedly wear better without the sharp corners. This plate was never lead filled, it was probably made late in the production run. Corners were clipped in the field. Nondug plate, hooks are broken, tongue intact. Plate measures 54.7mm x 79mm.
Ref: Mullinax Expanded Edition, Plates 282 to 286. $4,000.

P1913. Federal oval belt buckle, regulation 1839, US, left handed, arrow hooks, small size, pattern 519.

Buckle depicts "US", and was used by the Federal army as well as the states. Buckle is oval following the Federal Regulation of 1839, and was designed to secure a belt fitted over a soldier's jacket, used to carry his cartridge and cap box, along with any other items carried on a belt, most of the small sized plates were manufactured in the 1840's and 1850's, the large size came later. This die pattern features boxy letters, "U" with slightly flat bottom, "S" with rounded openings, soft but clean strike. Brass plate is stamped on thin sheet brass, solder filled, configured as a left handed buckle with single brass arrow hook under the "S", bent flat narrow tongue is slightly milled and tapered to a point. Plate measures 42mm x 71mm approx with minor bends. Dug plate both hooks intact, fragment of leather remains, plate is uncleaned and could certainly be cleaned, surface metal appears to be smooth.
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 519. Sold.

P1944. Federal round shoulder plate, regulation 1826, eagle, Dingee or Pittman pattern 461, variant.

Plate depicts patriotic eagle, and was used by the Federal army as well as the states. Shoulder plate is round following the Federal Regulation of 1826, most were manufactured 1850's through end of the Civil War, and was used as ornamentation on the shoulder strap. This die pattern depicts eagle with graceful detail, right wing shows feathers progressing in size with no break, arrow tails are long, dense and symmetrical, small variation in the leaf configuration of the branch, pattern is attributed to Dingee and Pittman, who were partners. Brass plate is stamped on thin sheet brass, solder filled, configured as an enlisted shoulder plate, two iron hooks are formed on a loop with ends bent upward. Plate measures 62mm approx. Dug plate, hooks missing. Recovered: not known.
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 461. $100.

P1945. Federal round shoulder plate, regulation 1826, eagle, pattern 446.

Plate depicts patriotic eagle, and was used by the Federal army as well as the states. Shoulder plate is round following the Federal Regulation of 1826, most were manufactured 1850's through end of the Civil War, and was used as ornamentation on the shoulder strap. This die pattern depicts eagle with ruffle in left wing leaving strong separation of long feathers, the last feather is longest, tail feathers are distinct. Brass plate is stamped on thin sheet brass, solder filled, configured as an enlisted shoulder plate, two iron hooks are formed on a loop with ends bent upward. Plate measures 62mm approx. Dug plate, hooks missing. Recovered: not known.
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 446. $100.

P1946. Federal round shoulder plate, regulation 1826, eagle, W.H. Smith pattern 462.

Plate depicts patriotic eagle, and was used by the Federal army as well as the states. Shoulder plate is round following the Federal Regulation of 1826, most were manufactured 1850's through end of the Civil War, and was used as ornamentation on the shoulder strap. This die pattern is attributed to W. H Smith, Brooklyn NY and depicts eagle with graceful detail, right wing shows feathers progressing in size, slight ruffle but no break, arrow tails are feathery. Brass plate is stamped on thin sheet brass, solder filled, configured as an enlisted shoulder plate, two iron hooks are formed on a loop with ends bent upward. Plate measures 62mm approx. Dug plate, hooks missing. Recovered: not known.
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 462. Sold.

P1952. Massachusetts tongue and wreath belt plate, state seal with native American, cast, tongue with smooth back.

Buckle depicts the state seal of Massachusetts, native American holding bow and arrow, with motto, "Ense Petit Placidam sub Liubertate Quietem", "This hand the rule of tyrants to oppose, seeks with the sword fair freedom's soft response", intended for officers of Massachusetts units. Buckle is two part style and intended for an officer carrying a sword. Buckle was probably manufactured before the Civil War, buckle is sand cast, the tongue back is curved without a step up. Plate measures: keeper 53.8mm., wreath keeper 52.9mm., wreath 53.1mm., all measurements approximate as all parts are rounded. Nondug plate with gilding and with original belt adjuster.
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 352. Sold.

P1964. Federal round shoulder plate, regulation 1826, eagle, pattern 468, die variant.

Plate depicts patriotic eagle, and was used by the Federal army as well as the states. Shoulder plate is round following the Federal Regulation of 1826, most were manufactured 1850's through end of the Civil War, and was used as ornamentation on the shoulder strap. This die pattern depicts eagle with bold large feathers, no break in the wing, arrow feathers are sketchy. This variant has a slightly different artistic presentation of the olive branch. Brass plate is stamped on thin sheet brass, solder filled, configured as an enlisted shoulder plate, two iron hooks are formed on a loop with ends bent upward. Dug plate, with bends, hooks missing, plate has not been cleaned.. Recovered: Warrenton, Virginia.
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 468. $75.

P1972 Alabama oval belt plate, state seal "map on tree", right handed, stud hooks.

Buckle depicts the state seal of Alabama, a map on a tree, intended for Alabama units. Buckle is oval following the Federal Regulation of 1839, and was designed to secure a belt fitted over a soldier's jacket, used to carry his cartridge and cap box, along with any other items carried on a belt. Motif is detailed and depicts a map of Alabama nailed to a tree, with prominent branches and roots. Buckle was likely manufactured in the south by a small manufacturer, die stamped on thin sheet brass, configured as a right handed buckle, three brass hooks are attached from a "T" frame imbedded in solder backing, two oval washers are peened over the studs, filled with lead and originally covered with a brass cap, thin single hook bent and tapered to a point. Plate measures 57mm X 88mm (approx due to bends). Recovered: at Camp Nelson, near Lexington, Kentucky by Ray Flora in 1975. Plate is whole, some reverse bend, rim damage and cracks, hooks intact.
Ref: Mullinax Expanded Edition, Plate 216. $7,000.

P2004. South Carolina tongue and wreath belt plate, state seal palmetto tree, keepers are plain, wreath adorned with laurel leaves, die struck.

Buckle depicts the state seal of South Carolina , a Palmetto tree, with motto "Animis Opibusque Parati", "Prepared in mind and resources.", intended for officers of South Carolina units. Buckle is two part style and intended for an officer carrying a sword. Die is well executed featuring the South Carolina seal on a lined background, keepers are plain, wreath is adorned with laurel leaves. Buckle was manufactured before the Civil War, round disc is die stamped and brazed to a cast tongue bar, wreath is cast in one piece with a rounded channel. Plate measures: tongue keeper 50.6mm, wreath keeper 50.2mm, wreath 53mm. Nondug buckle, wreath and keepers are gilded, tongue is silvered, the black color is silver tarnish, which can be cleaned and brightened or the antique patina retained as is. This plate is believed to be a marriage of two halves, it is an outstanding fit, an elegant piece. The black color on the tongue is silver tarnish, and silvering can clearly be seen on both the front and the back but not on the keeper, this suggests that the plate was originally gilded, both keepers are matched gilded, the tongue was silvered using electroplating process, presumably done by a jeweler after manufacture, the tongue was dipped in solution, the gilded keeper was carefully kept out of the electrolytic bath. Many South Carolina plates will have silver tongue or silver overlay with gilded wreath, this was a common practice in Charleston and reflects the wealth of the city and its militia units at the time.
Ref: Mullinax Expanded Edition, Plate 352. $3,000.

P2005. Alabama buckle, state seal "map on tree", two part belt plate, cast, southern wartime manufacture.

Buckle depicts the state seal of Alabama, a map on a tree, intended for officers of Alabama militia units. Buckle is two part style and intended for an officer carrying a sword. Motif depicting map of Alabama nailed to a tree with prominent branches and roots, is crudely cast on a plain field, keepers are plain. Buckle was manufactured in the south during the war, crudely cast copied from a pre-war design, tongue has flat bar with rounded area behind the disc. Wreath was not found, probably utilized laurel leaf adornment, with plain keeper. Plate measures: tongue keeper 48.6mm approximately (with a bend). Recovered: Leetown, West Virginia, by Brandon Darr.
Ref: Mullinax Expanded Edition, plate 213. Sold.

P2006. Confederate tongue and wreath buckle, CS, Virginia style with pointed serif, keepers are plain, wreath adorned with laurel leaves, cast, Confederate wartime manufacture.

Buckle depicts "CS" and is a two part tongue and wreath plate broadly used in the Confederacy. This style is noted for lettering with a pointed serif, wreath with laurel leaves, and plain keepers. Plate is cast, tongue disc is stepped up for placement in the wreath, back of disc is concave, wreath has a channel around the back side of the wreath. Plate is believed to have been made in Richmond Virginia during the war and production may have been shared with more than one manufacturer, there can be variations one casting to the next. This pattern was probably a derivative or subcontract of the Richmond style, the style is very similar differing primarily with the addition of the exaggerated serif. Plate measures: tongue keeper 48.1mm, wreath keeper 49.3mm, wreath 50.0mm. Dug buckle, both halves dug together. Recovered: Manassas Virginia campaign, by Oralis White in the 1960's.
Ref: Mullinax Expanded Edition, Plate 007. Sold.

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