Hey @Jason,
To give this thread some closure since you and probably everyone else are losing sleep over the belt loop on my buckle ( 
), in just the right light and angle, I can now see copper showing through on the outside of the loop. Now I’m thinking the loop is solid copper that was silver plated and the silver is starting to wear off. Could that be possible?
Yes that would seem reasonable. Nickel is plated onto copper to keep it from tarnishing and corroding. When it wears off it looks just like this. Because the nickel is more resistant to corrosion, the copper underneath will be more susceptible to corrosion now (it is called galvanic corrosion) but it needs an electrolyte to drive the reaction (water and salts). So make sure to keep the loop dry so the copper doesn’t corrode.
Thanks @MAlberg! I assume copper was being plated like this in the 40s-50s.
It was, but my guess would be that the silversmith would purchase the belt loop already plated rather than do it themselves. Not that they couldn’t do it but it is another skill set that would introduce more putzing than it would be worth (in my opinion).
