A Debate Surrounding the Coburg Badge

   
One of the Coburg Badges being debated in the collector's world today is this badge pictured above. It is believed that the badge above belongs to C. Alisby. It is rumoured that it belonged to Martin Bormann who was a prominent official in Nazi Germany as head of the Nazi Party Chancellery. He gained immense power by using his position as Adolf Hitler's private secretary to control the flow of information and access to Hitler. He had final approval over civil service appointments, reviewed and approved legislation, and by 1943 had de facto control over all domestic matters. In 1927, Bormann joined the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP). His membership number was 60,508. He joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) on 1 January 1937 with number 278,267. By special order of Heinrich Himmler in 1938, Bormann was granted SS number 555 to reflect his Alter Kämpfer (Old Fighter) status. No one really knows more about this badge except the fact that some collectors think that two have been specially made but only the above is known to exist. Looking at the close up photographs being produced, some of the details do not conform to the standard design as seen on a textbook Coburg Badge. So whether this is a genuine piece (a private purchase or a prestigious honour award) or a post-war fantasy piece, no one really knows. Stick to a standard Coburg Badge and you'll be alright. Image credit: WAF

Coburg Badges with Provenance

  
Provenance - What is it? In the collecting world, the term "Provenance" is sometimes used to widely describe a record of ownership of the badge (or item), and used as a guide to authenticity or quality. A badge that has provenance, attributed to a high ranking official or a well known figure, can fetch a higher amount and has higher desirability. Such attribution can sometimes come in the form of a signed document by a vet, a family member, through photographs or any other evidence. Proving the autheticity of the attribution is also sometimes difficult and can be faked. The two Coburg badges have some sort of attribution, herein the one on the left is attributed to Karl Schegk, with provenance coming from the Brown House which was the Headquarters of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. The badge on the left does not have any provenance per se, but has been attributed to Ludwig Schmied. The bottom line is that all Coburg badges are not numbered and therefore cannot be traced back to the recepient, so when buying the badges, think whether you need that level of provenance or attribution, and if that source can be trusted.

Martin Mutschmann

Martin Mutschmann (9 March 1879 – 14 February 1947) was the Nazi Regional Leader (Gauleiter) of the state of Saxony (Gau Saxony) during the time of the Third Reich. Mutschmann was nominated Gauleiter of Saxony in 1925. He maintained this position until the end of World War II. Generally his political activity concentrated on Saxony rather than on Germany as a whole. Mutschmann was passionately interested in the preservation of Saxon arts and crafts. Mutschmann was sentenced to death in Moscow and shot on February 14, 1947.

Hans Zöberlein

In 1922/1923 SA-Brigadeführer Hans Zöberlein led a Hundertschaft in the Munich SA. In 1923, and again from 1925 to January 1927 he led the Sektion Au-Giesing of the local NSDAP in Munich. From December 1926 to January 1928 he was the Führer of the Sturm 2 (later renumbered Sturm V) of the Munich SA-Standarte. In early January 1928 Zöberlein succeeded Georg Seidenschwang as Führer of the SA-Standarte I in Munich, a command he retained into 1930 (he held command even when the Munich SA was divided and a second Standarte established in early 1929, under the overall command of the new SA-Brigadeführer I Wilhelm Helfer). In 1931 and 1932 he served in the Oberste SA-Führung heading Abteilungen Ib and IIb. More information regarding his intense political activity during the period can be found in the book “Die Münchner NSDAP 1925-1933” by Mathias Rösch. Credit: Ignacio, Axis History

Coburg Badge Mini Stickpin - Close-up Images

These close-up images come from a collector (Gary) of which the photographs show an extremely well detailed rendering of the Coburg Badge being miniaturised as a stickpin.

The photographs above from collector Hakan shows the reverse and comparing the mini stickpin with the 1933 and 1929 Reichsparteitag badges to scale. Unfortunately Hakan has now sold his stickpin. These change hands very quickly. Also the stickpin is unmarked and the knurling effect on the pin has been skillfully made.

The above stickpin was sold a while ago by an Canadian dealer of which the full frontal view shows the cut-out. It is believed that the cut-out was done manually, similar to the full-sized badge, henceforth you will notice that the outline of the cut-out will not be the same for every badge.

A UK-based collector has displayed his miniature badge along-side with the Coburger Abzeichen (the Coburg Badge) with the background showing a commemorative postcard. We have also been lucky to acquire such a postcard. Paper-based items related to Coburg have been rare.

A larger closeup images of the Coburg stickpin taken by a UK-based collector, Jon that once again shows the crisp details of the stickpin. Reproductions of these stickpins are known to exist, so be very careful. They are not difficult to fake but by studying the details well, you will be able to tell signs that do not comform to these textbook pieces. Happy hunting!
 

Coburg Badge Mini Stickpin

 
One of the great unknowns about the Coburg Badge is the Mini Stickpin that has surfaced in the recent years. There have been some collectors who have acquired such stickpins, usually measuring about a fifth in size when compared to the full badge. As we can see from the Fritz Eitel's grouping, there is indeed a miniature Coburg Badge presented within his photo frame dated 1933 which is also decorated with a party eagle on the above. Below shows a close up of the miniature with some details intentionally omitted. The details shown in the miniature is very good, with crisp lettering. From author's collection.
 

Yet Another Second Pattern Appears ...

Another second pattern has surfaced, this time from an American collector who claimed that he purchase a large lot of NSDAP items that was brought back by an American World War Two veteran. The lot included about thirty items, including this remarkable Coburg Badge. This badge shows a broad pin set up, typical of second pattern pieces. If you look carefully, the RZM marking appears on the Seven O'clock position, rather than in the centre when compared to the previous post. Some second pattern pieces also exhibit an interesting "fingerprint" texture on the reverse which may be due to the manufacturing process of sanding down or removing excess material through a machining process. it is said that the edges were filed down by hand, which meant that no two badges have an outline that is exactly identical, so don't worry if one of your towers appear smaller than another piece.

Another Second Pattern Surfaces

Another second pattern Coburg badge with a clear RZM marking on the reverse appeared earlier this month in July at an auction. The starting price was 3000 euros, eventually ending with a hammer price and auction fee of about 8300 euros. This is a nice second pattern badge with all textbook features and a lovely brass hue to it. There are two variations of second pattern badges with one having the 189 maker mark and the other with an RZM mark on the reverse.

Fritz Eitel's Grouping

Fritz Eitel's grouping remains one of the best and most complete set of medals and documents related to the trio of esteemed badges - The Coburg Badge, The Blood Order, and the Golden Party Badge. We reported in March 2016 about the Coburg Badge group which comprise of photographs and documents. It seems that more of Eitel's stuff have surfaced, of which the Blood Order and Golden Party badge were split and sold by another dealer. It is also said that a  beer stein dedicated to Eitel was also split and sold separately. The beer stein was sold with a hammer price of US$1400 in August 2016 and now for sale elsewhere for US$2500!

Interesting Coburg Plate - Erich Probst

This unusual Coburg Badge related plate recently surfaced in a small German auction house and was sold with a hammer price of 260 euros. It was said to be made by Hutschenreuther Selb Bavaria Germany. The plate measures 23.5cm. It is still not known about the association of Erich Probst with this plate. It has an unsual colour scheme with this colour combination never seen in association with Coburg related memorabilia except for the lead window.

First Pattern Coburg Badge

This first pattern Coburg Badge recently surfaced in January this year and exhibits most features that you would see in a first pattern piece, including the very thin pin. No reverse photos are available. Some details on the top including those of the castle are faint but this could be due to the quality of the photograph. Still a nice badge altogether.

Second Pattern Coburg Badge

Here's another second pattern of the Coburg Badge which surfaced in 2011 and was sold by a German dealer. Not the wider than usual pin on the reverse which is different from the usual replacement being used. This wider pin also has a blunt tip and with a nice line in the centre of the pin. The rest of the features are textbook. Courtesy of der-hase-fee.