Military Item Found in Rural IL Field.. What is it?

[warhorse67]

This item was found in a field in a very rural Illinois town after being plowed. I'm not sure what it is. There is an eagle, and in his claws he holds an anchor. There appear to be 6 cannonballs beneath the anchor, and surrounding the eagle appears to be 13 stars. It's made of brass. I do not own the item. It belongs to a family member who discovered it in his field. This is the only photo I have of it. I assume it's navy. There is nothing on the back side, no clasps of any kind.

 

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[Kiros32]

Can we see a picture of the back. It looks like a Navy Tongue and Wreath buckle, however the wreath portion typically attaches on another piece, and it not part of the tongue.

 

[kuger]

Called a False Two Piece

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Kuger is correct, your belt buckle's form is known as a "False 2-Piece" buckle. Specifically, your buckle is a US Navy Officer buckle, Regulation 1876 Pattern. Your exact buckle is shown in the 1877 catalog of Horstmann & Brothers Co., a major dealer of militay gear in Philadelphia PA. The version in your photo continued in use up until at least World War One. Also, see buckle #1019 in the book "American Military Belt Plates" by O'Donnell & Campbell.