Westminster Dragoons Imperial Yeomanry

[Gurkha]

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