The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA  Civil War buckles & plates bought and sold
	relicman.com

Civil War buckles & plates, Relicman sales catalog

All  items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. 
Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.

P1042     US oval cartridge box plate, pattern 501 or 502    
 
Use of the US oval plate was approved with the regulation of 1839, most of this "large" size were manufactured 1850's through end of the Civil War.  Designed for a 2 inch belt, the plate was die struck on thin brass sheet, solder filled.  Manufacturer is not known and manufacturing quality is poor.  The die features tall letters, "U" with slightly rounded bottom, "S" with simple openings, letters are often poorly struck, solder filling and hook placement is irregular.  Plate is configured with two wire hooks as ornamentation for a cartridge box, use of these box plates were discontinued in the1864 regulation.  Dug plate has clean patina, original convex bend with minor scratches only, solder filling is solid, both hooks intact.  Recovered: Fredericksburg, Virginia.  Plate measures 56mm x 85mm (approx., oval plate is irregular). 
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 501 or 502 (cartridge box plate)     $175.