CAP PLATE, C. 1850 ( ?) 



USNM 604552-M (S-K 699). 



Figure 17}. 



A companion piece to the preceding plate, this 

 specimen differs in that the letters "r g" and ihcii- 

 stippled background are struck integrally with ilic 

 plate proper — indicating that two dies were combined 

 for a single strike — and in that the shield, ribbon, 

 and numeral "l" have been siKered. 



Such plates are known to have been in use with 

 little or no change almost to the present day on mili- 

 tary school dress shakos and dress caps worn by some 

 National Guard units. The plate proper, which is of 

 brass, is the well-known half-sunburst device so 

 popular in the 1830's and 1840's. The Georgia state 

 seal, also in brass, is applied with wire fasteners. 



CAP PLATE, lOTH REGIMENT, MASSACHUSETTS VOLUN- 

 TEER MILITIA, C. 1850 



USNM 60358-M QS-K 114). Figure 174. 



This plate is of a type form worn on Militia dress 

 caps prior to the Civil War. There is little doubt 

 that plates such as this continued in use for several 

 decades after their initial appearance. This brass 

 specimen, surmounted by' elements of the Massa- 

 chusetts seal, is struck as a stock pattern for Massa- 

 chusetts troops with the center left bank. The 

 numeral "10" is applied to a black-painted metal 

 disk afH.xed with simple wire fasteners. 



CAP PLATE, GEORGIA, C. 1850 



USNM 604545- M (S-K 692). Figure 175. 



This plate and the one following arc of Militia 

 types worn on caps in the 1850"s and perhaps earlier. 



Figure 174 



The plate is dated later than a similar one of the 

 Republican Blues (fig. 152) because of the "feel" 

 of the piece and the fact that it cannot be ascribed 

 to a particular unit whose existence can be dated. 



CAP PLATE, VIRGINIA, C. 1850 



USNM 604547-M (I-K 694). Figure 176. 



This plate differs from the preceding one only in 

 that it substitutes the coat of arms of Virginia for that 

 of Georgia. The backgrounds, although very similar, 

 are products of different dies. 



87 



