Original 1850 Civil War Navy Belt Plate Buckle Tongue and Wreath

This is a beautiful genuine 1850 design navy belt plate, also referred to as a tongue and wreath or spoon and wreath buckle. It is not a reproduction. There is a similar one to it in O'Donnell-'s orange book, but this one has a different type navy tongue. This particular variety appears uncommon or possibly rare. It is similar to the 1850 buckle T40 on the Hanover Brass website. This particular variety seems never to have been reproduced. This style buckle was first used in 1850, but its use continued through the Civil War (and beyond), so it is considered authentic Civil War era. It came from an estate that had other more Civil War specific navy and army buttons.

This example apparently was in service for a long time because the front had been repeatedly polished so that some feather detail has been lost from the breast of the eagle, and there is no gilt remaining. It has the numbers "26" stamped on the front under parts, illustrating it is an authentic matched piece.

Despite the wear, this is a genuine, authentic, and hard-to-find 1850 era buckle that you will appreciate adding to you collection.