🥇 BANNER Waist Belt Buckle ID Help

[Curious The George]

My hunting partner, Buck, got us on the site of an old building from ca. 1830 that had been torn down. I found this buckle behind where the building stood. There were known Confederate and Union troops that camped in this area at the end of the CW.

I have looked at several books on buckles and so far come up with nothing. Closest I come is in "Plates and Buckles of the American Military 1795-1874" by Sydney C. Kerkisis. On pages 10, 11, 12 there are buckles show of similar design but the belt loops are not the same. And those buckles are Infantry, Artillery and generic service.

This buckle is obviously Navy oriented. There are buttons from the War of 1812 era that have a similar eagle with oval shield containing an anchor.

It is quite surprising how much of the original gold plating remained on the buckle. The only reason the eagle lost his is because when I dug it I took a toothbrush to it in order to find out what the design was. I know I shouldn't have but around here our ground is not usually this friendly to plating. Most places is good old red clay but this particular location had dark sandy soil for some reason.

At any rate if anyone has seen this style buckle and is willing to fill me in I sure would appreciate it.

 

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[Curious The George]

The many positive comments are appreciated. I thank all of you who have nominated for banner. Cannonball's additional information blows me away.

 

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[BuckleBoy]

WOW! Banner Nomination Sent for a FINE Recovery!

-Buck

 

[-=METAL=-]

Wow, awesome find.

 

[romeo-1]

Very nice find...congrats on the banner!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Great find - congrats on the banner!

 

[AQUA]

Sweet buckle...


Very exciting to make a find like that !!!!


Congrats on the BANNER !!!!

 

[absosecur]

Congrats on banner

 

[Steve in PA]

Don't know how I missed this post, but congratulations on a stunning and rare plate! When the next edition of "American Military Belt Plates" is published, your find in it!

 

[Curious The George]

I really appreciated the nominations and the management honoring the find.

I have been in contact with the curator of collections at the US Naval Museum at Annapolis. This thing is so rare that it deserves the best accommodations. I am trying to find out if there is an interest for the buckle to reside there. I have already found out they don't have one, just have a button with the same eagle and shield motif.

 

[pepperj]

Congrats on the banner for this rare piece of history, hopefully it will be displayed so it can be enjoyed for many years.

 

[cntrydncr1]

awesome find!! congrats on making the banner!!

 

[Tenspeed]

That is a beautiful buckle and I really like your idea of donating so that many can see it.

My most unusual find (SC 371st Regiment 1918 WWI Medallion) resides in the SC State Museum and I hope to see it come out during the centennial of WWI.

 

[Curious The George]

I have now heard back from the Curator of the US Naval Academy Museum at Annapolis. They would be very, very happy to have it. I am going to drool over it for a few months and then send it on to them, if I can get an understanding that it would never de-aquistioned. Nothing would irritate me more than to find out they put it up for sale.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I'm glad to see your 1803 US Navy beltplate got elevated to Banner status. People do not know how rare AND how "special" your find is, unless somebody provides the information. Apparently, the US Navy did not issue any "official Navy insignia" beltplates to sailors during the Revolutionary War. Thus, your find is one of the very earliest "official MILITARY-ISSUE" US Navy beltplates. The term US Military-issue means, equipment specifically manufactured under a US Army/Navy purchasing-contract and issued to soldiers/sailors by the NATIONAL Army/Navy, instead of by a city/county/state Militia unit, or being purchased individually by the soldiers/sailors themselves.

I've sent you a Private Message, telling you how to contact Mike O'Donnell, the author of the book "American Military Belt Plates, so in a future edition of the book he can replace his photo of a poor-condition 1803 US Navy beltplate with your much-better condition (and more-complete) one.

 

[Old Dude]

I certainly have no experience in the matter, but having a find be used as the pictorial example in a catalog must give you a sense of immeasurable pride. Having made banner here is an honor, but your find being donated to a military museum will give you honor forever. Congrats to you on everything.

 

[sliverofsilver]

great history find
banner

 

[choppadude]

Absolutely great find and very commendable that you want to have it out there where others can enjoy it and learn a little about its history.

 

[terpfan]

Congratulations on the well-deserved honors for this find. It is wonderful news that the Naval Museum has an interest. If you learn that the piece has been put on display in Annapolis, please let us know. I live pretty close and would visit to see it in person.

 

[mangum]

Great find & congrats on the banner! I'm skeptical about museums, if I gave anything away it would have to be on permanent display. I wouldn't want it sitting in a box... A museum lost something of mine before. I'll keep my relics in my personal museum for now. Maybe when I die the museum will get a few things lol

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

AWESOME FIND !! CTG.

I missed this one too, had it been titled Navy belt plate, I'm sure it would have caught more attention.

I do hope you can find the missing piece. I'll be looking for a similar half (though not nearly as rare) this season.

Good Luck out there.