There has got to be some kind of historical signifigance to that pin. Insterno, the high bidder, is an avid pin collector; I doubt he is ignorant enough to blow that amount of money on a pin just because its from the 20's. In regards to expensive pins, I recall seeing a Delta Gamma pin go for over $2,000 within the last 6 months.

Any Sigma Chi's or pin collectors on here know of any signifigance of that pin?

The item description said it was engraved with "J.W. Crosby"

I did a google search and found a J.W. Crosby who is a wrestler, a J.W. Crosby III who is a writer of some sort.... maybe a Sigma Chi here might know if "J.W. Crosby" is a notable alum?

"Blinged out" has very little to do with badge value.

The original owner of this badge is not especially significant. But this badge is from 1884 according to my Sigma Chi directory (not the 20s as the seller mistakenly assumed) and it is of very unusual construction for the time period.

There have been a few Sigma Chi badges on ebay in the last couple of years from the 1850s and 1860s that went for over $4,000. It's simple supply and demand as always. I agree it's an inflated market price, but I'd hardly call it "out of control". These guys know what they're doing.

wptw

Hey thanks wptw, we know we can always count on you for some solid info.

After I posted my original reply, I went back and looked at the badge again. I'm no pin expert, but I realized that it didn't seem like something from the 1920's and I had a feeling it was more like late 1800's. That scenario made more sense to me.

Interesting topic!

.....Kelly :)

WPTW, being blinged out may have something to do with badge value. What if a badge was commissioned of 24k gold, platinum, and over 2 carats of IF diamonds?

Just a thought.

You've missed the point. We're talking about antique badges here. Collector's pieces.

Breathesgelatin said that given the price of the badge, she expected it to be heavily jeweled.

My response is that when collectors dig deep into their pockets and start coughing up thousand dollar bills, it generally has nothing to do with gold and gem content and everything to do with age, uniqueness and historical significance.

wptw

wptw is so right om!

That is why I paid a larger sum for a TKN badge. They merged with LXA in 1939. I have got the best of the best that I have seen on site so I feel I got a great deal Now, that is.

One went for over twice of what I paid for mine and was not nearly as nice.

One right now is up to $300.00 + Just a plain Jane. Badges going back into the eons of time will be different, by different makers, etc.

There is a pledge pin, I know wptw, knows of what I am speaking, had to maybe be a prototype of the current LXA NA pin. It is a lot different and the Brother who bought it has since sent it to our Hdq for display as a donatation.

I would with out a doubt say that wptw is the resident Badge expert on site and has always even tho under fire some times has always been willing to help with any questions from GCers.

Thanks WPTW!

Oh, I got it, okay. What I was saying was that someone who WASN'T a collector, if a badge was platinum and had multiple IF (internally flawless) diamonds on it they could use that more than the badge itself.

Don't assume things - you generally don't.

I saw former Sen. Fulbright's EX badge go for quite a high sum on eBay not too long ago. I kept track of it for a while because it was interesting, definitely something for a collector, and because I am a Sigma Chi.

ebay question
 

Is there any way to search all sold items? I wanted to see about Dg pins that had been sold but it looks like the search engine only goes back 30 days.

FWIW, I read the bid history on it. There were at least 2 people listed that have also been bidding on ADPi pins. I would assume that they are savvy collectors.

honeychile