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     The buckle shown here is one of only two CS buckles I have ever examined with such heavy gilt.  The photos you are looking at perhaps look like brass, but in reality is mostly gold.  Brass can only be seen in the most heavily worn spots.  It is a rather large example, measuring 84.5mm across, having a 47mm tongue loop, a 49mm wreath loop and a 48mm wreath.  Such a heavily gilted buckle could only have been worn by an officer.

     There is a hole drilled into the loop bar of the wreath so that it could be mounted to a board.  By attaching it with the one hole on the wreath, it held the tongue portion tight against the board, hence no need for a second hole.  It is accompanied by an old tag which reads: “Confederate officer’s Belt Buckle found on the Battle Field of Corinth, Miss.”  Though the Massachusetts company that made the tag was in existence in the mid-nineteenth century, the block style letters indicate that it was likely written in the 20^th century.  The tag is very old though, and definitely genuine.  The plate has just been deaccessioned from a now closed museum.    

     Other than the drilled hole, the buckle is perfect.