A very good example of the gilt stamped brass “false embroidered” wreath used by officers in place of the actually embroidered bullion version, but made in the form of a wreath of shamrocks rather than laurel leaves to express the Irish identity of the unit. The laurel wreath, as a symbol of victory – in various competitions by the Greeks and a more specifically military in the hands of the Romans- appeared in the 1830s on US military belt plates and soon after on hat insignia. This variation replacing the laurel with shamrocks became popular with American militia units as a symbol of Irish ethnic pride before the Civil War and was carried over into wartime use by militia regiments mustered into U.S. service and volunteer units with a militia nucleus or simply a predominantly Irish background and as a non-regulation piece of insignia might be found worn by some enlisted men as well though it appears in photographs mostly as a substitute for the laurel wreath on officer’s caps. The condition is excellent, with no bends or breaks, and with three short brass fastening wires still soldered in place on the reverse.  [sr] [ph:L]

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