Why Civil War Belt buckle has drilled hole?

Pascal1

Why does my model 1851 Civil War officer's Belt buckle have a 1/4" hole drilled though it? Facing the buckle the hole is in the lower right corner. The buckle has the original belt (leather) and brass fittings.

rufe-snow

Probably because some moron wanted to mount it in a shadow box for display purposes.

team roper ozzy

+1 on the above but depending on the size of the drilled hole i have seen example done like this to pull off a fraud for a bullet struck plate..the idiot drilled a hole then glued in a " union 3 ringer" [:D]to the Union Sword belt plate[xx(]