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Henry T. Noyes Commemorative Badge
Identification and Preliminary Value Assessment
Identification
This badge depicts Brigadier General Henry Taylor Noyes of New York and is marked on the front commemorative or presentation badge.
Dating
A likely date is approximately 1895–1898. Noyes was appointed in April 1895 as Commissary-General of
Subsistence of New York State, with the rank of brigadier general. The use of “Gen.” on the badge therefore fits his
later military career rather than his original Civil War service period.
Material
Based on the photographs, this should not be described as a solid-gold badge. The construction appears to be
gilt/plated base metal, likely a copper-alloy such as brass. The reverse shows thin sheet-metal construction,
folded/secured edges, and a period pin assembly. There is no meaningful gold-melt value to assign without
independent testing proving otherwise.
Historical Context
Henry Taylor Noyes had a significant Civil War and later New York military career, including service with the 148th
New York Volunteers, work with the XVIII Corps, command of the 38th U.S. Colored Troops, and later service as a
New York brigadier general. His later prominence helps explain the production of commemorative material bearing
his portrait.
