IMPERIAL GERMAN BELT BUCKLE LOT M1847 BAVARIAN

Imperial German Belt Buckle lot to include 1) M1847 PRUSSIAN EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE. An early, pre-1895 pattern, two-piece brass construction Prussian belt buckle. The 52mm, slightly convex, stamped metal box buckle, features, against its plain, obverse field, a crown to its domed center, encompassed by a dual rope-like border within which, against a ribbed background, is "Gott Mit Uns" (God [is] With Us), and a spray of laurels. To the reverse is its raised buckle catch, and a metal prong bar with dual prongs, for the belt’s retaining tongue. Unmarked. First introduced in 1847, the design of the buckle remained virtually unchanged until 1918. After January of 1915, these buckles, which were also used by the Prussian-dominated states of Baden, Oldenburg, Hansa and Thuringia, were made of zinc-plated sheet iron. Originally the box buckles came in a 50mm, (roughly 2 inches), width until 1895 when the width was reduced to 45mm, (roughly 1 3/4 inches), in an attempt to lighten the weight load of the field gear. Initially the buckles were produced of brass with a nickel/silver face plate until 1914 when steel construction buckles were introduced. 2) M1847 BAVARIAN EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE. An early, pre-1895 pattern, two-piece brass construction Prussian belt buckle. The 52mm, slightly convex, stamped metal box buckle, features, against its plain, obverse field, a crown to its domed center, encompassed by a dual rope-like border within which, against a ribbed background, is "IN TREUE FEST" steadfast in loyalty; firm in fidelity, and a spray of laurels. To the reverse is its raised buckle catch, and a metal prong bar with dual prongs, for the belt’s retaining tongue. Unmarked. 3) M1847 PRUSSIAN EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE. An early, pre-1895 pattern, two-piece brass construction Prussian belt buckle. The 52mm, slightly convex, stamped metal box buckle, features, against its plain, obverse field, a crown to its domed center, encompassed by a dual rope-like border within which, against a ribbed background, is "Gott Mit Uns" (God [is] With Us), and a spray of laurels. To the reverse is its raised buckle catch, and a metal prong bar with dual prongs, for the belt’s retaining tongue. Unmarked. 4) M1847 PRUSSIAN EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE. An early, pre-1895 pattern, two-piece brass construction Prussian belt buckle. The 52mm, slightly convex, stamped metal box buckle, features, against its plain, obverse field, a crown to its domed center, encompassed by a dual rope-like border within which, against a ribbed background, is "Gott Mit Uns" (God [is] With Us), and a spray of laurels. To the reverse is its raised buckle catch, and a metal prong bar with dual prongs, for the belt’s retaining tongue. Unmarked.