A rare and early example of a pair of cufflinks that bear the coat of arms, or the seal of the world renowned United States military academy; West Point. The coat of arms and motto,“Duty, Honor, Country.” were adopted in 1898. when Col. Charles W. Larned, professor of drawing, headed a committee to design a coat of arms for the Academy and stated several criteria for the design. The committee decided that the design should represent the national character of the Academy, its military function, its educational function and its spirit and objectives. The final design consisted of a sword, a universal symbol of war, and the helmet of Pallas Athena. Athena, a fully armed mythological goddess, is associated with the arts of war, and her helmet signifies wisdom and learning. There is also the Roman numerals MDCCCII (1802), the year West Point was formed. The coat of arms was used without change until 1923, when Captain George Chandler, of the War Department, pointed out to Superintendent Brig. Gen. Fred Sladen that the eagle and helmet faced to the heraldic sinister side. The helmet, eagle’s head and sword were soon turned to their current position. This pair has the helmet facing the 'sinister' side, thus dating them pre-1923. Made in America by the U.S jeweller Krementz and are in a low grade gold, perhaps around ten carat.
