Die-Struck Excavated Sheet Brass Virginia Waist Belt Plate

Die-Struck Excavated Sheet Brass Virginia Waist Belt Plate – This plate was amongst the significant dug collection we just obtained. The plate had a tag that accompanied it indicating that it was excavated near Richmond, in the 1970s. The applied brass tongue remains in place, although the belt loop bar is missing, as indicated by the three holes where the bar was once attached. The bar appears to be unmarked; the plate features Virginia’s coat of arms (adopted in 1776) featuring Virtus attired as a helmeted Amazon, with a sword and spear, standing over a prostrate Tyranny. The state motto – “Thus Ever to Tyrants” is enclosed beneath the laurel wreath encircling Virtus; “Virginia” is enclosed within the riband beneath Tyranny. This plate was a product of James Smith of New York,  distinguished as such by the presence of spheres at the ends of the riband; according to Steve Mullinax, in his seminal work “Confederate Belt Buckles & Plates”, the New York “Journal of Commerce” reported the seizure of Virginia belt plates and dies from “Smith’s manufactory”, just after the onset of hostilities, in 1861; the plate therefore dates to production in 1860-1861. Some of these plates had Smith’s maker’s mark on the tongue, while others, comparable to this example, had blank tongues. The plate remains in excellent dug condition.

Measruements: 50 mm x 70 mm