This King Ranch security badge was made by cutting and polishing an 1893 Mexican silver coin. The back of the badge clearly retains the original coin markings. The front of the badge features a gold King Ranch “Running W” cattle brand overlay in the center of the five-pointed star and “KING RANCH SECURITY” filled in with black enamel. Known as “the birthplace of American ranching,” the King Ranch was established in 1853 when Captain Richard King purchased land in south Texas. The ranch led some of the first cattle drives in the country and went on to develop champion breeds of cattle and horses. There was a time when official King Ranch security personal were commissioned as Special Texas Rangers. Nearly 170 years later, America’s largest ranch covers 825,000 acres, which is larger than the state of Rhode Island, and maintains agricultural interests in cattle ranching and farming as well as recreational hunting. Provenance: The Robert B. “Bob” Berryman Estate Collection