Bidspirit auction | A Trio of 19th Century

A Trio of 19th Century United States Military Belt Plates - This lot contains a trio of 19th-century United States military belt plates representing the Civil War and Indian Wars periods. The first item is a Civil War era M1851 officer sword belt plate of cast brass. The rectangular plate features a spread-wing eagle with an escutcheon, arrows, and olive branch beneath a burst of rays and thirteen stars, all encircled by a laurel wreath. The reverse features hand-incised inscriptions including the names George Pear Devin, George Usher, and C P D Camp, along with the date 1863. The second item is a Civil War era M1839 oval waist belt plate. This stamped brass plate features raised US lettering and a double-line border with a lead-filled reverse and iron wire loops. The reverse is stamped with the maker mark W. H. Wilkinson Son Springfield Mass and a separate inspector mark for Shepard. The third item is an Indian Wars era M1874 Hagner style oval waist belt plate of cast brass. It features raised US lettering and a single-line border with a solid brass reverse and a three-prong attachment consisting of one loop and two arrowhead-shaped hooks. M1851 Plate: 3 1/2 inches x 2 1/4 inches M1839 Plate: 3 1/4 inches x 2 1/8 inches M1874 Plate: 3 1/4 inches x 2 1/8 inches. The M1851 officer plate shows significant wear to the high points of the relief and a deep, aged patina. The M1839 Wilkinson marked plate shows a heavy dark patina with patches of green verdigris oxidation; the iron wire loops exhibit surface rust and the lead backing shows several gouges and scratches. The M1874 plate displays a brighter brass finish with minor surface scratches and yellow-green oxidation residue on the reverse near the attachment points.