Civil War excavated relic VMM Volunteer Maine Militia cartridge box plate. Found years ago on private property with permission near the historic Chancellorsville VA battlefield. Very rare dug VMM Volunteer Maine Militia box plate. Prior to the Civil War the state of Maine contracted a company to make cartridge box plates for the state militia. The known examples of pre- Civil War VMM plates in collections show that they were poorly manufactured with weak lead, this rare VMM box plate has a good amount of lead remaining. The bottom has a slight loss of rim which was done at the time of manufacture when apparently the VMM brass skin was trimmed a little too close before it was lead filled. The box plate does have a slight bend and it's iron hooks are intact.
THIS PLATE IS BEAUTIFUL, as found with NO damage, NO repairs. This rare VMM box plate was found along the Spotswood Furnace Road used by Union troops in 1863 on their way to Chancellorsville VA. USPS shipping on this item includes signature confirmation. Please see my other relic auctions, thank you.