This is a very nice pre-Civil War Militia Eagle Buckle that was recovered in the Richmond, Virginia area and remains in very good condition. It is constructed of heavy sheet brass and features a die stamped eagle with upward pointing spread wings and clutching a laurel branch in its right talon and a bunch of arrows in its left. Above the eagle’s head is the legend ‘E PLURIBUS UNIM’ in a ribbon and above this, 17 stars. The buckle possesses an attractive ground dug, age toned patina and measures 2¾ inches in width by 2¼ height. The wide wire belt loop on the back side was broken off ages ago and is probably the reason the buckle was discarded. The tongue remains and is firmly attached. The buckle exhibits some misshaping and an area from the eagle’s top right wing down to the right side of the shield in its chest has worn through. Despite these defects, the buckle remains a very attractive example of a pre-Civil War buckle that most likely saw Confederate service in the early years of the Civil War.