Kevin, on your silver retired or rememberance badge example, is it's composition aluminum? I viewed an aluminum version at a recent show, did not pick it up as my funds were running low. Also observed a couple of alloy versions where the silver painted finish was intact on the reverse but absorbed on the obverse, on the obverse they were varnished. Whether period varnished or done post war?
Saw one nice old/silver first pattern, but that funding thing got in the way once again.
