POST MEDIEVAL BUTTON

Cast copper alloy solid, die-cut button with engraved coat of arms of the Duke of Cornwall, consisting of a shield containing 15 circular discs or 'bezants', which supposedly derives from the Byzantine gold coins used to release the Duke of Cornwall from the Saracens during the Crusades. The edge of the button is bevelled but uneven and unfinished. There is a depression on the back of the button where the attachment loop would have been soldered on. The style of this button and the back suggest that it dates from the 18th to the 19th century, but the recorder cannot find when this motto was first used with the Duchy arms.Bertie Ross, Secretary for the Duchy of Cornwall, has kindly sent extracts from the Council minutes regarding the Duchy Arms/Seal from 1937-8 and these state that the present Duchy Seal of the 'Shield Sable with 15 Bezants, 5,4,3,2,1, ensigned with Royal Crown' was re-instated in 1938 and that it had not been used for over 75 years until that time, which suggests that this button must be earlier than about 1860.Read (1988) illustrates an engraved solid button with a bevelled edge on page 185, No.1269, which is dated to the 18th century.