Is this part of a hat badge?

[fyrffytr1]

I found both parts today at the Spanish-American War camp near my house. Could this be a part of a hat badge? If so, what would the whole badge have looked like? First two pictures are as it came out of the ground. I did a very light cleaning with water and a soft tooth brush but I had to put my wife's brush back before she missed it so I didn't get it cleaned as well as I wanted it.http://tnet.forumfoundry.com/forums/images/smilies/laughing7.gif All joking aside this piece is fragile and I didn't want to damage it with a more aggressive cleaning. Does it look like pin attachment spots on the back side? Thanks for any and all help.

[Full Metal Digger]

Nice find. It looks to me like part of a WW1 veteran's (USWV) hat wreath.

57293

[fyrffytr1]

DD, thanks for the reply. There are several uses for this wreath but I think the most logical one for me is a pre-1895 Kepi or forage hat badge. According to a reference put out by the Smithsonian, in 1895 the military switched from a thin stamped brass like mine to a heavier cast brass. Also, being from a S-A war camp site I tend to believe it is from the 1898-99 period.