Wesley Crusher Comm Badge

[CoveTom]

I have watched TNG since it's original run in the 80's and 90's, having seen each episode roughly 2.3 million times. And yet I never noticed until today, watching a random YouTube clip, that Wesley Crusher in his 2nd-3rd season "gray jumpsuit" outfit wears a different communicator badge than the rest of the crew. The part behind the delta is silver, rather than the gold for everyone else.

Was that variety of communicator badge ever seen on anyone else? Do we assume it was because of his provisional acting ensign rank at that time?

I can't believe that I've never noticed that before!

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

Yeah, that was his acting ensign badge. He gets the regular gold one when he gets his uniform.

 

[Oddish]

Most kids on the ship don't have commbadges at all.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Most kids on the ship don't have commbadges at all.

Most kids aren’t acting ensigns.

 

[at Quark's]

So, would there be any differences between that silver commbadge and the regular gold one (e.g. reduced capabilities) or would it only be a different color?

 

[Nerys Myk]

So, would there be any differences between that silver commbadge and the regular gold one (e.g. reduced capabilities) or would it only be a different color?

It has the child safety features.

 

[at Quark's]

It has the child safety features.

<Wesley taps commbadge> Acting Ensign Wesley to Captain Picard
COMMBADGE: I'm sorry Wesley, I wasn't designed for that. Do you want to play a game?
Wesley: No, I want to talk to the captain!
COMMBADGE: As I said, I cannot do that. Let's play a game! Can you name all Starfleet ranks in ascending order?
Wesley: Can I talk to commander Riker then? Or anyone on the bridge?
COMMBADGE: No, I'm only an educational badge. I cannot communicate with classified areas. Do you know what a classified area is?
Wesley <clenching his teeth> Now I understand why commander Riker was laughing so mischievously when he handed me this ...

 

[Oddish]

Most kids aren’t acting ensigns.

True. I guess they probably track kids on the ship in other ways. Maybe their clothing or shoes have trackers in them.

 

[NCC-73515]

Fansets even made one

Star Trek: The Next Generation ACTING ENSIGN Delta V2 Silver/Silver MAGNET by FanSets

Star Trek: TNG ACTING ENSIGN Delta V1 Licensed FanSets Magnet Officially Licensed! This Delta comes to you directly from the Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is full size. While manufactured with FanSets normal attention to detail this was not created to be a cos-play piece and is a magnet...

fansets.com

and there was a silver back with golden delta too

Star Trek: The Next Generation Comm Badge - 'Acting Ensign' (#1) original TV series costume

This screen-used prop/costume Comm Badge was originally acquired through the 2006 Christie’s Star Trek auction as part of a two piece lot which contained both of the Wesley Acting E ...

www.yourprops.com

Star Trek: The Next Generation ACTING ENSIGN Delta V1 Gold/Silver MAGNET by FanSets

Star Trek: TNG ACTING ENSIGN Delta V1 Licensed FanSets Magnet Officially Licensed! This Delta comes to you directly from the Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is full size. While manufactured with FanSets normal attention to detail this was not created to be a cos-play piece and is a magnet...

fansets.com

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

So, would there be any differences between that silver commbadge and the regular gold one (e.g. reduced capabilities) or would it only be a different color?

My assumption has always been the latter.

I'd also have liked it if they'd reused it for cadets and (junior) enlisted personnel, but I understand that probably wouldn't have been practical and would have been another thing for the wardrobe department to get confused about.