Unidentified Brass ILL (Illinois) Plate. What is it?

[Finderskeepers13]

Hello Treasure Friends,
Purchased this brass find from someone that purchased it from an estate sale in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Myself nor the Seller have any idea as to how old it is, what it is, or even what it was used for.
Only that the ILL stands for Illinois.
I'm assuming it was sand casted, it is flat and not curved.
Both opened ends are 3/4 inches long

Entire item measures 1 x 4 1/4 inches and a 1/4 inch thick.
Anybody have any ideas to what it was possibly used for?
I have searched the entire internet and have not found another like it.
Your responses will be appreciated.

 

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[Bigdob]

Actually Illinois in abbreviated form is IL not ILL
Maybe sometime back in history it was different , don’t know
BT

 

[Joe G from Md]

Have seen a few civil war veterans pins with ILL. for Illinois.

 

[HAPPYCAMPER]

ILL stands for Illinois (old style) according to site on abbreviations

 

[Finderskeepers13]

One idea crossed my mind, that this may have been possibly mounted somewhere on a Cavalry horse leather harness.

If it were some type of reproduction, I'm sure you would expect to see more around.
I just can't find anything resembling it, to compare it to.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I grew up in Illinois and I don't think I remember seeing anything like it before. Illinois was abbreviated as "Ill" from 1874 until 1963, (as far as the USPS is concerned) so your piece is either from that time frame, or is copying something from then....

I don't think it's military, my one idea is possibly railroad related, but if it is I've never seen one like it.

Whatever it is, the way it's made says it was meant to be on a strap or belt, but by looking at how rough the casting is in the slots, I'd say it has never been mounted, and it's a bit odd those weren't cleaned off....

 

[olroy70]

now, I feel old. used those abbreviations when I went to school!!!!!

 

[nhbenz]

Possibly an old school belt buckle as described well in this thread: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/412125-illinois-belt-buckle.html
and many examples shown here: McKean buckles collection on eBay!

 

[Subterranean]

Sorry, Just had to...I agree with nhbenz on this one! Sub

 

[Anduril]

Just someone's initials?
Not related to Illinois?