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While most certainly Victorian era it's not necessarily CW era and IMO not military either. Can you see what else is written on the bottom scroll?
It says patented 1850 on the bottom
Why do you believe this item is from the civil war? The patent date of 1850 is well before the civil war, and the look and object of the item does not look remotely military.
it is very interesting though. I blew your picture up to %400 original size. There are more words on the bottom than "Patented 1850" The bottom loop says "PAT _ _ _ 1850"? What are the middle letters? If they are a MONTH, it would greatly assist us in helping you solve your item.
Further, above the bottom loop on the scroll, there are additional words. I think it is a person or company's name, and it looks like the last name is "MYNITT" Am I correct on the last name? What is the first name?
I did a cursory search for the name Mynitt, and numerous results come up for Shakesperian plays, which the figure on your item closely resembles.
Please give us some more info to assist you.
Its close but different. I dont know if it was different in 1850. I dont see the Goiiad symbol but I think I see a star. It could use some research.the very bottom of it says patented 1850/ but do u think its the massachusetts flag on it ??
idk it matches the buttons pretty closely. could it be a part of a family coat of arms? my family has one that has the family seal and then another piece i assume denotes a location.
Kuger is absolutely correct. The item is the front portion of a suspender buckle, featuring the Massachusetts state seal. These are 100% 1850's era, and not of any military issue or affiliation.
The first photo shows how a complete buckle was originally constructed. This is the only complete example I have ever seen found, including the rivet and ring. This was just recently dug by my father from a pre-Civil War site. Dad always seems to have a good idea where the early stuff is! Of course he grew up knowing Civil War veterans, so he has the inside scoop on the old stuff!
The second photo includes a couple buckles from a friends collection.
CC Hunter