Gau Thuringen Remaked

[Matthew]

more pics

Few more shots. BTW- the 'patina' that seem to encompass most of this pin is not really a patina- it is dirt as I was able to scratch it with my fingernail to expose the number.

[Matthew]

last two

last two shots.
cheers
Matt

[Matthew]

silver mark

last one

[transvision]

wow love this eagle.....

[ErichS]

Congrats Matt, you did well my friend!

[Richard]

Matt, nice badge indeed! Here is another example from the web. Most characteristics seem to point to an original with sharpness of strike and no marks indicating casting. The lettering appears thinner than that of Erich's or Matthew's badges, which have broader, flat surfaced letters. The lettering looks more like the badge that Andreas posted. Additionally the catch on this one is smaller and the number on the reverse goes in the opposite direction of all I have seen before.



Richard V

[Richard]

Here is a link to a cased one on Craig Gottlieb's site that has the number on the reverse also going in the opposite direction as most. Notice also the different hinge and pin, which may have been replaced at some time (note the discolortion just below the hinge). I also can't make out what that discoloration in the middle of the eagle's chest is. Alsothe silver mark, 0800, is on the reverse of the badge in the lower left, rather than at the base. Perhaps Craig can post some better pictures of this badge if he sees this thread.

http://www.craiggottlieb.com/engine/...Filter=Gallery

Richard V

[Matthew]

Thuringen

Thank You for your kind words Gentlemen.
Unfortunately there is no story to go with the badge. It was sold through one of German Auction Houses. How it ended up so dirty/patinated I have no idea- I'd like to think that it was simply left alone since the war but I'm afraid it's just a wishful thinking. Either way I'm happy that it's what I consider a textbook example as I gambled a bit going by those weak pics. They are a pain to find and with the abundance of fakes not the easiest thing to tell apart either.
cheers
Matt

[ErichS]

Richard,
The cased one on CGs site has a frosted finish and was quite possibly the type given as an honor award and not to the original 1000 or so oldest party members from the Gau.

[Matthew]

gau pins

The 1393 posted above- the images are simply too weak to say anything definite about it IMO. It is quite possible that the main lettering is simply reflecting light with its burnished surface and gives the viewer a illusion of 'thin' letters.
As for the other one- impossible to judge without a pic. On the verso- what is with the top of "N" in NSDAP? Different numeral font, different hardware. Anyone has a pic of the front of it?
cheers
Matt

[Richard]

Richard,
The cased one on CGs site has a frosted finish and was quite possibly the type given as an honor award and not to the original 1000 or so oldest party members from the Gau.

Erich, interesting observation. That would then wonder about the numbering of the badge. With a number of 1605, we would need to assume an equal or greater number of these honor award badges were given out than the actual Ehrenzeichen, or the numbering system did not start with 1. As an honor award would there even be a need for numbering?

Another question I have, is it known precisely how many of the actual Ehrenzeichen were awarded? The one posted by my in the post above the link to Craig's site shows a number of 1393. However it too appears to possibly have had a frosted finish with a polished, highlighted swaz. Both have the number in the same orientation but Craig's has the silver content on the reverse, the other at the base.
Richard V

[JoeW]

Erich, interesting observation. That would then wonder about the numbering of the badge. With a number of 1605, we would need to assume an equal or greater number of these honor award badges were given out than the actual Ehrenzeichen, or the numbering system did not start with 1. As an honor award would there even be a need for numbering?

Another question I have, is it known precisely how many of the actual Ehrenzeichen were awarded? The one posted by my in the post above the link to Craig's site shows a number of 1393. However it too appears to possibly have had a frosted finish with a polished, highlighted swaz. Both have the number in the same orientation but Craig's has the silver content on the reverse, the other at the base.
Richard V

Richard, perhaps these special finish badges are private purchase or replacement? With a Besitz-Urkunde, a recipient could legally order a replacement or fancy edition, interspersing them among the first edition "800" bottom stamped versions. A GPB recipient could order extras/replacements as he had a Besitz-Urkune also.

This thread provides some interesting discussion: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ight=thuringen . I think by 1937 the issue numbers hit at least 1300 according to records.

[Matthew]

finish

Just to wrap it up-the weight of my specimen came in at 12.1 grams
cheers
Matt

[Matthew]

426- Magnus Schreiber

Just in case anyone is interested I had a good fortune of finding a list of recipients (actually 2 lists) of Gau Thuringen Ehrenzeichen. If anyone owns one of the pins and wants to match it up with the name based on the number you can PM me.
Now off to hunt for Gau Berlin list.

cheers
Matt

[ErichS]

I noticed on the Weitze update that he has a Gau Thuringen badge in silver for sale for 3500 Euros.