Why do American junior Officers get gold insignia & seniors get silver?
Once upon a time army officers wore gold or silver epaulettes on the shoulders of their uniforms. On the silver epaulette the rank insignia was in gold bullion embroidery for contrast and vice-versa for gold epaulettes with silver rank badges. Generals wore a gold epaulettes with one or two embroidered silver stars for either Brigadier or Major General. A full Colonel wore a large silver eagle. Second Lieutenants wore plain gold or silver epaulettes and a First Lieutenant had a bar of contrasting colour and Captains wore two bars. Majors wore no rank insignia on their epaulettes which were larger than those of subalterns (junior officers), the rank of Lieutenant Colonel was added and they were given a silver leaf on gold as they were staff officers, while Cavalry and other arms wore silver epaulettes. Silver epaulettes were eliminated and only gold epaulettes were retained, when it was decided to award Majors a leaf, it was gold as the silver leaf was already used by Lieutenant Colonel
