Bengal Artillery, officer’s coatee button, 16mm

Bengal Artillery, an example of an officer’s 16mm coatee button with closed back, retaining almost all of the original gilt.  The backmark is RANKEN & Co CALCUTTA. The button has the design of the title BENGAL ARTILLERY on a garter around the typical three cannon. with three cannon balls above. The Bengal Artillery ceased to exist after the Indian Mutiny when the artilleries of the three Presidencies were absorbed into the Royal Artillery. This pattern was worn up to the Mutiny but we are not quite sure when this closed back style replaced the earlier open backed [see elsewhere in this category for an example of that style].   jul24/4