The coronet of a viscount is a silver-gilt circlet with sixteen silver balls (known as pearls) around it.
The coronet itself is chased and embossed as if in the form of jewels (like a royal crown) with alternating oval and square jewel-shaped bosses, but is not actually jewelled.
It has a crimson velvet cap with lined ermine trim (the cap being purple in heraldic representation).
There is a gold-threaded tassel on top.
The sixteen pearls are what distinguishes the coronet of a viscount from other degrees of the Peerage.
The coronet of a viscountess (above) is smaller in size and sits on top of the head, rather than around it.
Like all heraldic coronets, it was customarily worn at coronations, but a viscount is entitled to bear a likeness of it on his coat-of-arms, above the shield.
Viscounts are peers of the fourth degree in the nobility, next in rank above a baron and below an earl.
First published in June, 2011.
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