CNG Regimental Lapel Badge
Here we have a regimental lapel badge of the Connecticut National Guard Second Infantry Regiment’s Company K. The badge is marked “Solid Gold” on back meaning it should be 10k gold. It is cross shaped, constructed out of two pieces and is beautifully engraved with black enamel highlighting. The center circle is mounted on the body of the cross and has the black enamel letters CNG and the date 1871 divided by ornamentation. The CNG stands for Connecticut National Guard and the date 1871 must be the date the company was raised and accepted into the CNG. In the center of the circle on the original body of the cross are the number 2 and the letter K in gold on a black enamel background. The 2 is the regiment number and the K for Company K of the regiment. The original owners name may have been engraved on the back and then removed at a later time. This privately made badge would have been expensive in the late 1800’s which indicates that membership in this unit must have been quite an honor and the badge would have been proudly worn on the original owners civilian lapel.
