The 1874 pattern belt plate for officers carried the same design as the 1851 pattern - the arms of the U.S. with eagle, E Pluribus Unum ribbon, wreath, stars, etc., - but moved the belt loop from the side of the plate to the back. The pattern was in wide production for use not only in the regular army, where it tended to be relegated to wear with dress blues after 1910, all the way up to 1941, but in the national guard and militia units, cadet corps, etc. This one is made of die-stamped rolled brass with hollow back and applied tongue and belt loop. The quality is excellent, with crisp details to the eagle and other elements and a finely stippled ground. The original black leather belt with it is of equally good quality, folded and stitched with a double border line top and bottom and two sets of double interior lines in shallow arcs facing up and down, intersecting with one another at their ends. The belt itself is one-piece with fixed standing loop at one end with the belt passing through it after looping through the belt loop on the hasp and then looping through the belt loop on the plate, being secured and adjusted by two floating friction loops. Both belt loops are fitted with a sliding plate over which the belt actually loops rather than around belt loop bar itself.

The condition is very good. The plate shows a mellow, aged patina and has no bends or breaks. Tongue and loops are in place. The belt is solid and has a nice color with the finish showing just light rubbing along the outside top edge.  [sr][ph:L]

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