GMI Georgia Military Institute 1861 Civil War Shoulder Breast Plate Buckle

[angeleye50]

Can anyone tell me if this is real or a repo
brought at a estate auction.
Below are photos Thank You

More links to more photos
https://ibb.co/JcCmQbH
https://ibb.co/yfLc7bH
https://ibb.co/xhw7nYN
https://ibb.co/1zQgMfb
https://ibb.co/0nY4Cc7
https://ibb.co/bHmHnJg
https://ibb.co/WszW2PT
https://ibb.co/85xXt5K
https://ibb.co/VpQG4RY
https://ibb.co/vLTQsJK
https://ibb.co/kK9S0KW
https://ibb.co/qY6WCn3
https://ibb.co/19Whsr1
https://ibb.co/SrrhCVR
https://ibb.co/2KwxQVh
https://ibb.co/JQTkMfJ
https://ibb.co/kJQ8W4B
https://ibb.co/6NmCxXm
https://ibb.co/7t6KqJQ
https://ibb.co/0sQnMh7
https://ibb.co/5Tcc2dS

 

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[Blackfoot58]

The date stamping looks way too perfect for 1861 IMO. I’d lean toward reproduction based on photos.

 

[RustyRelics]

If it's date stamped to death, rule of thumb is its a repro. No need to date the back twice like that.

 

[Red-Coat]

Now, this is curious. An almost identical item appears as an illustration on the Ridgeway Civil War Research Center website, but described as a GMI shoulder plate not a breast plate. The dates seem to be in the same positions and orientations but less crisp than on yours; note the similarities of the moulding marks on the back and also the same use-wear scratch on the edge to the left of ‘1861’ at about 10 o’clock. Looks like these came out of the same mould.

Ridgeway Reference Library, Civil War plates and buckles

The item was offered on eBay by ‘Private Auction’ and with a disclaimer that the seller offered no guarantee for authenticity. Ridgeway added an editor note: “It is highly doubtful this piece can be shown to be authentic” and lists it as a “Fake-Fantasy-Reproduction”.