Honourable Artillery Company, Victorian officer’s silver plated, 25mm

Large size, 25mm, officer’s Victorian  silver plated button of the Honourable Artillery Company, H.A.C., with the backmark FIRMIN & SONS, LONDON. Some of the underlying copper is bleeding through on the high points of the design. The design is almost identical to that of the Grenadier Guards but is silvered because of the volunteer status of this ancient and superior unit which fires royal salutes from the Tower of London and has the distinction of being the oldest regiment in the British Army, incorporated in 1537 by Henry VIII.    aug17/5