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Model 1851 NCO rectangular sword belt plate brought home after the Civil War by Theodore Cooper of the U.S. Navy. In excellent overall condition, this unmarked, convex-shaped, brass device measures 83 mm x 51 mm and follows the November 1861 Ordnance Manual directive as being constructed of gilt cast brass with an integral brass spread-winged eagle and applied three-piece, nickel-silver laurel wreath with its tips above the wings. The specimen has a finely stippled background with sunburst rays on the plate face that features the motif of the spreadwinged eagle; the eagle wears a shield on his breast while gripping an olive branch with its right talon and holding three arrows in its left talon. All elements of the casting remain distinct.
Theodore Cooper was a twenty-two year old New Yorker who stood 6' 2" tall when he enrolled in the U. S. Navy as a third assistant engineer Dec. 24, 1861. He served on the USS Chocura in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron from Jan. 13, 1862, to June 28, 1865 and was promoted to second assistant engineer on Sept. 8, 1863. After the war, Cooper served as an instructor at the Naval Academy from July 13, 1865, to Feb. 5, 1868, and was aboard the USS Nyack from March 26, 1868, to May 15, 1870, and then returned to the academy. His final rank was first assistant engineer. Cooper was discharged at Annapolis on July 26, 1872 and entered civilian life as a civil engineer. He was born Jan. 12, 1839 at Cooper Plains, Steuben County, N.Y. After the war, Cooper lived in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Phillipsburg, N.J. and New York City working as a civil and mechanical engineer. A bachelor, Cooper died on Aug. 24, 1919.
