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