Westminster Dragoons Imperial Yeomanry
 

A nice Hallmarked Silver cap badge for the Westminster Dragoons IY.... or so it seems.
Hall mark for 1903 Birmingham.
This has been in a collection for 50+ years and has recently been declared suspect for the following reasons.

Not a known maker of silver badges. it appears that a piece of silver has baring a hallmark has been cut out of another item such as a bowl. The hallmark is genuine. This has then been used to strike the badge.

As we know a piece is made then hall marked after. Under a microscope the stamping can be seen cutting thro the hall mark by the raised ridge in the hallmark. The the hallmark punch would have left a flat surface.

For your education. One for the scrap bin.

Steve

Westminster Dragoons Imperial Yeomanry
 

This post illustrates the fact that badges were being faked way back in the sixties and probably earlier, especially scarce badges such as Imperial Yeomanry.

It is a shame when money takes over from historical interest as I would think this item changed hands for a considerable sum when acquired.

Rob

All that effort for a collar badge. WD officers wore bullion on their headdress.

Steve I’ve sent you a PM.

So far all the IY officers cap badges I’ve seen have a voided portcullis. Albeit a large disclaimer is I don’t collect officers badges so it’s not something I’ve ever properly looked into.

Think I’ve seen later TY badges in frosted silver but can’t recall where.

Its looking like this may be pukka after all. Identified as an Arm badge.
Steve

I’ve been corresponding with Keith Hook about this badge.

It is indeed an NCOs arm badge. Keith has an identical one in his collection, same HM, maker, date, position of mark etc.

The badge is die stuck but due to the thickness around the portcullis the reverse detail lacks fine detail but is deep. The HM being stamped onto this has not completely flattened the peaks and troughs of this detail leaving remnants appearing as lines running through the HM. Totally genuine and not at all inlaid from another silver item.

On this occasion Bosley’s are wrong, it’s a genuine badge.

Gents,
As im now happy this is genuine I shall be moving it on if anyone is interested.

Steve M