In 1860 the state of Georgia purchased one thousand sets of accoutrements from Ames Manufacturing Company. Ames then subcontracted them to Emerson Gaylord. Each set was accompanied by a cartridge box plate and a belt plate of this pattern.

The plates bore the State Seal of Georgia. The seal displays a symbolic image of the Constitution as an arch that is supported by three pillars. "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation". The rights enshrined in the Constitution are symbolically protected in the seal, by a guardian standing ready with a drawn sword. Just before the War, Georgia’s leaders cast "moderation” to the wind and the other two pillars collapsed during the War. And thus in 1861 did Georgia’s sons go forth to protect the sacred rights won by their fathers in 1776. Georgia’s citizen soldiers did their utmost to defend their three founding principles, though in the end, all three were crushed.

This particular box plate is in such good condition that at first glance it looks non-excavated. It is however, excavated, as shown by the "freeze crack” in the top right of the face. This type of crack is caused by the freezing and thawing of the ground, causing the plate to move within its tomb.

The outer edge of the lead filling has pushed slightly towards the obverse side of the plate for the same reason.

The Georgia oval was double stamped, the outer rim was stamped with one die and the inner seal was stamped with another; this was because the same outer rim die was used for multiple different state patterns, with the only difference being the inner die stamp.

The iron loops are in excellent condition, that combined with the lack of deterioration of the filler and the lack of ground action on the face, indicate that it is a very, very early find.

This could not be more solid unless it was non dug.