Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Minesweeper War Badge, Owner-Attributed, Unknown Maker Variant

(Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boot-Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände). Constructed of gilded and silvered tombak, 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 block hinge and tapering vertical pinback, bearing a hand-etched owner’s surname of “BECKER”, otherwise unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of a variant produced by an unknown manufacturer using the Karneth design, measuring 43.59 mm (w) x 55.33 mm (h), weighing 30.4 grams, the catch is missing and loss of finish is visible throughout the base metal, in very fine condition.