Value of KM badges

[jacquesf]

I am trying to accummalate a nice representave collection of KM badges. I do however have no idea of the cost or value of the various badges. It seems to fluctuate wildly. I would appretiate if someone can provide the average value/ price for a unmarked, good frosting, for each of the following?

High sees fleet
Auxilliary cruiser
Destroyer
E-boat
blocade runner
minesweeper
u-boat
coastal artillary
combat clasp

It would be highly appretiated.

Jacques

[Jeff V]

Hi Jacques, this is an impossible task. The values fluctuate greatly depending on maker, condition, and availability at the time you are ready to buy. If you want nice condition badges keep your eyes on the e-stand, some nice badges show up from time to time. Recently some beautiful Schwerin examples were sold by Mathias on the e-stand. best wishes,
jeff

[jacquesf]

Jeff, I appretiate that , but I am trying to establish a ballpark figure for each badge, using basic criteria like average condition, no maker. What is reasonable for a good condition unmarked HSF, $400-500, destroyer $300-400, eg. I just have no idea what the different badges are worth in general. Jacques

[Terrence]

Tucker's "german combat badges of the 3rd reich came with a price guide. Its a bit out dated but a guideline at least for comparison.

T

[jacquesf]

Terence, thanks this is helpful.

Tucker's "german combat badges of the 3rd reich came with a price guide. Its a bit out dated but a guideline at least for comparison.

T

[Steve Campbell]

I'm no expert but from what I've seen the 2 most affordable ones are the minesweeper and the coastal artillery. Minesweepers can be had for as low as $150 US and the CA is usually a bit more than this but not usually over $250. I know the rest of them get pricier. The Aux Cruiser can be in the $1000 range I think. Of course condition, various makers and material can influence the price a great deal. If I'm off base here let me know.

[Nico C]

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...47#post1799047


Some nice badges for a good price on the e-stand now

[Tim B.]

Hi Jacques!

Unfortunately Jeff is pretty accurate in his assesment; it really depends on what you want, the condition of the piece, and who is selling it. Like all areas of collecting, once the item has a demand for it, people keep raising the price as high as they can get for it. E-stand is no exception.

What I suggest is to visit several of the major dealers and see what they are getting for their items. Everybody is peeking in on one another to see what they are asking and adjusting their prices accordingly (including the estand). For the most part, and there are always exceptions, they are pretty comparable across the board. They keep going up and up and up! Remember though, people will always buy quality!
Tim

[Mike Kenny]

....What I suggest is to visit several of the major dealers and see what they are getting for their items.....

That is probably the best advice to answer your question! Use both US and German dealers, however imo for market value (ie for collector to collector or show deals, and no certificates involved) probably take 20-30% off (30-50% off for US "dealer gods").

As a rough guide, MINIMUM price (not average), zinc badge with fair finish in unrepaired condition, basically your average honestly worn unmarked zincer, maybe (US$);

High seas fleet - 200
Auxilliary cruiser - 300
Destroyer - 150
E-boat 1st- 350
E-boat 2nd - 300
blockade runner - 150
minesweeper - 100
u-boat - 200
coastal artillery - 125
combat clasp - 600 (but these only come Schwerin marked)

These are my estimates only - DO NOT expect to go to any dealer and find them for those sorts of prices. Start increasing values for good finish &/or maker marks &/or earlier tombak badges. Maker mark alone could add 25-50% these days. Bad zincpest, heavy wear/damage, repairs or de-nazification will all drop the value.

Feel free to up or down the estimates as you see fit!

Regards
Mike

[jacquesf]

Thank you for all the replies, it is very helpfull. Jacques

[Martin W]

Jacques,as mentioned it is very diversified.As far as Auxiliary Cruiser badges go if you want a nice unmarked Juncker you could pay from $800.00 to $1200.00 U.S.I've seen them more expensive on European sites.
regards,Martin.

[John R.]

I am trying to accummalate a nice representave collection of KM badges. I do however have no idea of the cost or value of the various badges. It seems to fluctuate wildly. I would appretiate if someone can provide the average value/ price for a unmarked, good frosting, for each of the following?

High sees fleet
Auxilliary cruiser
Destroyer
E-boat
blocade runner
minesweeper
u-boat
coastal artillary
combat clasp

It would be highly appretiated.

Jacques

Jacques,

My take on this based on your statement is if you do not know the value of these badges, this is the perfect opportunity for you to do the research and tell us what you have found. This is my point, your first step is not the value, it is the research. If you do not know the prices, do you know how to identify these badges by conditon/maker which in turn leads to an assessment of value?

Jeff is right, the prices are completely dependent on conditon/maker. You have to decide based on your budget and collecting goals what condition of badge you will be happy with, then do the research to make sure you are buying a real badge no matter the conditon, then value that badge based on the condition, then find a seller that will meet your price range.

Research first of which value is a part as well as authenticity, maybe post the badge here that you are interested in with your opinion of value and see if others members agree.

When I started, I made a list like what you have above. Then I checked estand and dealer sites and listed prices next to the badge. After about 6 months I had a good idea of the range vs. conditon.

I think you will see for top quality badges, there is not that much fluctuation (except upwards as time goes on). It is after you go below excellent condition tombak badges that the impossiblilty of a set price takes place.

Just one example, the Schwerin tombak minesweeper badge, in outstanding condition like what Mathias just sold on estand went for 400 euros. I would say that is top end but worth it if you wanted that quality badge. Dealers sell this badge in far lesser conditon but still nice around 300-350 euros. In banged up shape maybe you could find one for 250 euros but I do not think much less. So it has to do with condition and maker; but conditon can be very much in the eyes of the seller!!! The word "mint" comes to mind.

I hope this helped, since the worst thing is to buy a badge that you end up not happy with for whatever reason--however, you can always sell an original badge and upgrade it later, hopefully at not too much a loss, but, this is a hobby, so the profit and loss side of upgrading should not be major factor if you did the original homework and bought the first badge at a reasonable, meaning you can sell it for what you got it or maybe no more than 15% less, price.

This is just my take.

Good luck with this, John

[jacquesf]

Solid advice , thanx

Jacques,

My take on this based on your statement is if you do not know the value of these badges, this is the perfect opportunity for you to do the research and tell us what you have found. This is my point, your first step is not the value, it is the research. If you do not know the prices, do you know how to identify these badges by conditon/maker which in turn leads to an assessment of value?

Jeff is right, the prices are completely dependent on conditon/maker. You have to decide based on your budget and collecting goals what condition of badge you will be happy with, then do the research to make sure you are buying a real badge no matter the conditon, then value that badge based on the condition, then find a seller that will meet your price range.

Research first of which value is a part as well as authenticity, maybe post the badge here that you are interested in with your opinion of value and see if others members agree.

When I started, I made a list like what you have above. Then I checked estand and dealer sites and listed prices next to the badge. After about 6 months I had a good idea of the range vs. conditon.

I think you will see for top quality badges, there is not that much fluctuation (except upwards as time goes on). It is after you go below excellent condition tombak badges that the impossiblilty of a set price takes place.

Just one example, the Schwerin tombak minesweeper badge, in outstanding condition like what Mathias just sold on estand went for 400 euros. I would say that is top end but worth it if you wanted that quality badge. Dealers sell this badge in far lesser conditon but still nice around 300-350 euros. In banged up shape maybe you could find one for 250 euros but I do not think much less. So it has to do with condition and maker; but conditon can be very much in the eyes of the seller!!! The word "mint" comes to mind.

I hope this helped, since the worst thing is to buy a badge that you end up not happy with for whatever reason--however, you can always sell an original badge and upgrade it later, hopefully at not too much a loss, but, this is a hobby, so the profit and loss side of upgrading should not be major factor if you did the original homework and bought the first badge at a reasonable, meaning you can sell it for what you got it or maybe no more than 15% less, price.

This is just my take.

Good luck with this, John

[Jody]

KM Badges

Hello,
As others have said condition is the key point. Mint examples will always bring more and the later war-zinc stuff will be less. The exception for zinc awards is of course the 2nd pattern S-boot and U-boot clasps (which only come in zinc).

Regards,
Jody

[Gary B]

Dear Jaques,

If you are looking for truly mint tombak badges with all of the gold finish and the highlights burnished to a nice mirror finish expect to pay a significant premium over the prices stated previously in the thread. Prices for these badges from the big dealers will easily command over $1000 (around $1250-$1500 for a Schwerin Uboat, $1200-$1500 for a HSF and higher for a mint Aux Cruiser badge). I recently saw a perfect Minesweeper badge sell for $1100. That is almost 3 times what a "normal" badge would sell for.

As I had mentioned above, many will balk at paying this price from one of the big dealers but if you wait you will occasionally be lucky to find some minty pieces on the e-stand at SIGNIFICANTLY lower prices.

Of course paying these super high prices is obviously a thread/debate in itself but I just wanted to give you the higher end prices for such pieces.

Gary B