Brass belt buckle from Ohio

[nkmu]

Found this belt buckle today in Ohio on the property of a 1900 home. There's a symbol on the front that is unknown to me, and it is flanked by the numerals 7 and 8. There are not clearly other markings on this buckle. Google lens did not show any similar buckles. Does anybody recognize the symbol/ markings?

 

[duggap]

I have not seem one of those with markings on it. I believe those are called buckle covers. They go on horse equipment to keep the horse's tail from getting caught in the buckle. They were introduced after the civil war.

 

[nkmu]

Interesting, you're right, it can't really be a belt buckle, not set up like that.