This is a Confederate officer’s sword belt buckle featuring the Virginia State Seal with the Latin motto "Sic Semper Tyrannis" (“Thus Always to Tyrants”). The depiction is of Virtus, the Roman goddess of virtue, standing victorious over a fallen tyrant. This design was commonly associated with Confederate leadership, including General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. The reverse is stamped "J. Smith & Sons N.O." – a known maker of Confederate military accoutrements based in New Orleans. This brass buckle with tongue fitting and open rectangular belt loops is a strong representation of Confederate officer dress during the American Civil War.