Original Item. Only One Available. This is a gorgeous example of a Militia Artillery waist belt plate used during the 1820s & 1830s, around the Seminole & First Indian Wars. This example features the “Star of Stars” insignia rarely seen on these early belt plates. This exact style of buckle can be found on Page 106 of O’Donnell and Campbell’s book, American Military Belt Plates, and was in use from roughly 1818 until 1835.

The buckle measures roughly 64 x 68mm and is a gilt rolled copper plate struck from a larger cap plate die. The buckle has an applied brass tongue and belt loop bar with one retained iron keeper, showing very heavy oxidation. There is heavy wear to the finish with some very darkened spots to the front but many more on the back. There is some light denting to the original shape of the buckle. The design shows a raised spread wing eagle with lined shield, holding three arrows in its right talons and an olive branch in its left, all over a panoply of arms which include crossed cannon barrels, bayonets, pikes, and a stack of six visible cannonballs.

The “Star of Stars” at the top consists of 20 tiny five-pointed stars. The star count likely dates the die sinking to 1818, following the admission of the 20th state, Mississippi.

An outstanding example of a militia belt plate with the scarce “Star of Stars”, ready for further research and display!