Civil war officers belt buckle question

[Dirty Digger Doug]

I found a civil war officers belt buckle last summer. It is missing the wreath under the eagle. Can anyone tell me what metal the wreath was made of (silver?) and was it a solid piece, or silver with a lead or brass back? I see some on eBay but they look like they are pressed tin and hollow on the back side.

 

[ticndig]

model 1851 sword belt plate had a very thin nickel / German silver wreath . very common for wreath to be missing on dug plates.