These epaulettes, which have no device, indicate the rank of commander. Introduced into Royal Naval Uniform regulations in 1795, the epaulette was, until 1827, a relatively flexible strap of gold lace over very thin sheet metal with loose bullions. In the regulations of 1827, the extremely stiff and formal bonnet and crescent are introduced, and an additional border of gold purl is added to the strap.

When binders were originally in use in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, they were sewn onto the shoulder of the coat and the strap of the epaulette was slipped through them. However, the binders on these epaulettes are merely for show, as they are a band of gold lace, backed by blue wool, sewn around the epaulette. Epaulettes were instead secured to the coat by tying tapes, which ran through corresponding eyelets on the shoulder of the coat. However, the use of non-working binders may date the epaulettes to before 1832, when it was noted in regulations that: ‘The Epaulettes to be the same as commanded by His Majesty’s Regulations of 18th December 1827 but they are not to be worn with binders.’

The regulations state that the epaulettes are meant to have 40 bullions on each, but this example only has 39.

Commander Henry Bolton (1796-1853), to whom this uniform belonged, became a commander in 1829 and ended his career in charge of a district in the Irish Coastguard.