Circlet Rank Insignia

The regulation overcoat for officers was a dark blue while that for the enlisted men was light blue. This was no problem for the peacetime army, but in wartime it made targets of the officers. In 1861 officers were permitted to acquire mounted enlisted men's overcoats. Shoulder straps were not worn on overcoats and adding sleeve braid would be difficult in the field. Worn on the sleeve of the Sky Blue Great Coat just above the cuff.  Circlets appear in the Schuyler, Hartley and Graham catalog and were worn by some officers to indicate their grade. Another example of an original can be seen in Don Troiani's Soldiers in America. Also examples of officers wearing them under there coat lapel has been noted. 

The circlet reappears around 1867 in the Indian Wars on the Frontier though these also do not appear in the U.S. Army Regulations and photos show that they were worn on the sleeve of the Sky Blue Great Coat just above the cuff

Sold in pairs. 

Imported.