A beautiful dug example of a “Volunteer Maine Militia” Cartridge box  plate. These plates were made in like manner of the 1839 Pattern US Oval Cartridge Box Plate, was a rolled, stamped brass with two iron loops on the back and lead filled. According to O'Donnell & Campbells-American Military Belt Plates
, these buckles were purchased by the state of Maine prior to the civil war, for the Volunteer Maine Militia (VMM), which began organizing in the early to mid 1850's. By 1854, there were a total of 58 companies in the VMM, with 47 of them disbanding in 1856. By 1861 only ten companies of the VMM were still active and on April 28th of that year they would  re-organize and muster into service in Portalnd, Maine.
This Example has a beatiful Dark chocolate brown patina, retains 60% of its lead filling and has some minor dents on its outter edges. Over all a beautiful dug relic from the War between the states, that would display perfect in your collection!