Napoleonic Royal Navy button for an officer holding the rank of Master. Mercuric gilt over brass construction. Obverse with typical oval border with rope inner and outer edges, central large fouled anchor and with two further smaller anchors, one each side. The anchors set in relief over horizontal striping. The reverse with typical flat back, central fixing loop and impressed makers name, Hammond Turner & Dickinson'. Size: 23mm.

Condition report: Approximately 85% of the original mercuric gilt plating still present. Slight wear to the obverse, still very sharp detail for its age.

Note: The manufacturer, Hammond Turner & Dickinson were known to be active between 1790 and 1823. This particular button would have been manufactured between 1807 and 1812.

Additional information: The rank of Master is particularly scarce to find, since as with the rank of Captain, there would only be one Master to a ship. Outside of the Captain, the Master was the second most important individual, due to the master's specialist navigational skills.