This cast-brass plate bears the arms of the city of New York superimposed on an almost full sunburst. The surrounding wreath of laurel is taken directly from the plate authorized for general and staff officers of the Regular Establishment in 1832. While this is thought to be the plate for the New York City Guards, for whom a matching shoulder-belt plate is known, there is the possibility that it was also worn by uniformed police of the 1850's. WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1850 _USNM 604393-M (S-K 340). Figure 242._ [Illustration: FIGURE 242] A stock pattern, this cast-brass and gilded plate would have been appropriate for any of the several organizations called "National Guards" or "National Greys" that existed in a number of states. The letters "N G" do not connote the National Guard as we know it today. WAIST-BELT PLATE, OHIO, C. 1850 _USNM 604136-M (S-K 292). Figure 243._ [Illustration: FIGURE 243] The center piece applied to this cast-brass plate with wire fasteners bears an early form of the arms of the State of Ohio.[142] The plate proper has holes in it other than those needed to apply the present device, which indicates that it was a stock part, or possibly that the present center device is not original to the plate. [Footnote 142: For an interesting discussion of the evolution of the arms of Ohio see PREBLE, pp. 639-642.] WAIST-BELT PLATE, OHIO, C. 1850 _USNM 604130-M (S-K 286). Figure 244._ [Illustration: FIGURE 244] This plate bears another variation of the Ohio State arms. Here, the arms lie within a wreath as prescribed for Regular general and staff officers in 1832. The entire specimen is cast in brass; the wreath, sun, arrows, canal wall, and hull of keelboat are silvered. WAIST-BELT PLATE, PENNSYLVANIA, C. 1850 _USNM 60474-M (S-K 230). Figure 245._ [Illustration: FIGURE 245] Officers of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia wore plates of this type in the 1850's, although most were discarded in 1861 when Pennsylvania troops went into active Federal service. The outer ring, with floral wreath design, has been modified to give the appearance of a solid rectangle. Another plate in the national collections bears the letters "P V M" with the conventional outer ring. WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1850 _USNM 60480-M (S-K 236). Figure 246._ [Illustration: FIGURE 246] Just prior to 1850 there were two Militia units in Philadelphia using the letters "P G" to indicate organizational designation--the Philadelphia Guards and the Philadelphia City Greys. This brass-cast plate is believed to have been worn by the Philadelphia Guards, whose buttons were marked "P G." The buttons worn by the Philadelphia City Greys carried the three letters "P C G."[143] [Footnote 143: JOHNSON, vol. 1, p. 145, vol. 2, pl. 63.] WAIST-BELT PLATE, PROVIDENCE MARINE CORPS ARTILLERY C. 1850 _USNM 604147-M (S-K 303). Figure 247._ [Illustration: FIGURE 247]