Germany, Wehrmacht. A Mixed Lot of Badges

(Abzeichen). A mixed lot of badges, including:

1. A Minesweeper War Badge, constructed of gilded and silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Kriegsmarine eagle clutching a mobile swastika, surrounding a central depiction of an exploding sea mine, the reverse with a crimped hinge and tapering vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch emanating from a circular plate, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of manufacture by Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid, using the firm’s Variation 3 design, measuring 44.26 mm (w) x 54.55 mm (h), weighing 21.6 grams, demonstrating near-total loss of finish, in very fine condition.

2. A Black Grade Wound Badge, constructed of blackened magnetic metal, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, with a central raised Stahlhelm overlaid by a mobile swastika, on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with a clip hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, maker marked with Präsidialkanlzei code “65” for Klein & Quenzer, Idar-Oberstein, measuring 37.02 mm (w) x 44.34 mm (h), weighing 11.0 grams, demonstrating minor surface oxidation, in better than very fine condition.

3. A Silver Grade Wound Badge, constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, with a central raised Stahlhelm overlaid by a mobile swastika, on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with a crimped hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch emanating from a rectangular plate, maker marked with Präsidialkanlzei code “107” for Carl Wild, Hamburg, measuring 36.71 mm (w) x 44.20 mm (h), weighing 25.3 grams, demonstrating minor loss of finish, in better than very fine condition.

4. An Imperial Black Grade Wound Badge,  constructed of blackened magnetic metal, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, with a central raised Stahlhelm on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with a crimped hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked, measuring 38.41mm (w) x 43.39 mm (h), weighing 12.2 grams, demonstrating loss of finish and surface oxidation throughout, in fair condition.