OR's Tunic or Coatee?

[Roy]

Hi Chaps,

A little while ago we had an interesting discussion on collecting officers versus other ranks militia buttons. As someone who has a modest collection of 'officers' examples, I noted that I had seen very few OR's examples. Well with the example shown here I have broken my duck - as I now have a splendid OR's West York Rifles Militia example to include in my collection.

Aside from wanting to share my new treasure I have a specific question; In Ripley he notes this design under two numbers:

283 Black horn (coatee?)
284 Black horn (tunic)

My examples is 18.5mm in diameter. Can I ask members what their thoughts are regarding which one of the above it is? I'm leaning toward coatee but what to I know..

Cheerio,

Roy

[Cribyn]

Hello Roy

As this unit seems to have taken the title '1st West York (Rifles) Militia' in 1854, just a year or so before the coatee was phased out and the tunic introduced, statistically it seems more likely that your button is for the tunic. It also has a rim which is normally (but not exclusively, of course) associated with tunic buttons.

However, Howard does seem to think that a coatee version of this button, with rim and in black horn, may have been produced but the example he shows is without the wreath below the bugle horn which yours has. It may just have been a manufacturer's variation or error though, hence his '?' after the note.

To be perfectly honest I think you have the tunic version and very nice it is too!

Regards
Roger

[Roy]

Hi Roger,

Thank you as always for your studious reply.

I'm really not sure what is happening with my eyes (or brain ) I look and look at 283 & 284 and just couldn't see any difference. Of course you are completely correct in that 284 (like mine) has the wreath beneath.

For the sake of embarrassment I will put my oversight down to excitement rather than stupidity...

Cheers,

Roy