Sigma Chi Badge $3,050.01
 

I have been keeping an eye on this badge, and was amazed to see it reach so high in price.

ebay link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...4321&rd=1&rd=1

Well I guess the pictures have been removed of this item, so this thread is pretty much useless.

Tom feel free to delete this post:D

Although very beautiful, is it really worth it?

Someday I hope to be in a position financially where I could actually drop $3,000 on a fraternity badge.

But would I do it? I would probably think that the $3,000 could be much better used by giving it to a Brother that has had medical problems with mounting medical bills, a Brother who lost everything in a fire, or to a Brother's family that is in need, rather than to someone who sells these pins for a living.

Sure, it would be saving a piece of history, but I would think saving a piece of our future would be more important.

I am sure a LXA Badge from the 1900's would go for a bunch!:D

History saved!:)

Yes Tom, but is it worth it?

When it comes down to it, it's nothing more than a hunk of metal.

Why not simply give that money to a scholarship fund for one of our Brothers? Which would be more important, having an old pin, or helping a brother finish college that normally couldn't afford it?

That is a good question!

Having an old Pin and is on display at a Chapter House for a Historical fact can also be a proud thing that can be dispayed and show PNM's.

While I have a very nice Collection of LXA Badges, I also have those from My Local, TKN, and those of GLOs who were there when we started. Why, History!

Never forget History!:)

Right Tom, but what is history?

I'm not saying don't collect memorabilia, but when a small pin, with no historic value other than being OLD, goes for $5,000 or $10,000, I disagree with that.

Sure, spend some money on some pins, books, etc. All within reason. $50 here, $100 there, no problem. But these prices are approaching a semesters tuition at some state universities!!! But when it comes down to it, is it better to have a $5,000 1/2 inch piece of metal in a closet, or is it better to help a Brother get an education?

It's better to understand that people can do anything they damn well please with their money.

A little overstated but to true.

Many have given to The Brotherhood and many others have an Agenda that they feel comfortable with!

That is their thing and no one elses.

While I may know where this poster is coming from I too have donated Badges or many things, and it is for the betterment of My Chapter, His, Ours.

So, what is the price that one puts on that?

Well I didnt mean to stir such a sh*t storm, I was just amazed that something so small went for so much money, obviously this had some extreme historical value, and sure its beautiful, and I like to obtain badges myself, but im not quite in that position yet. Maybe when im bringing in 10 million a year, but not right now......LOL

I Know The Guy!
 

Brothers,

I know the guy! I have bought many things from him on and off eBay. He is a knowledgable collector. I suspect that there is something very significant about this badge that we don't know about. He is a Sigma Chi.

Oh, and he is a medical doctor....

Everything has a story... we can learn from every story told... that is why I collect. Not objects...not things...stories...that can teach us about life...what value do we place on a story? History...stories...things...objects...stories...l ife.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, Z-U Zeta

Well, what story does a 1/2 inch piece of metal tell exactly? What don't we already know from it?

The question is, is it really worth it in the context of preserving LXA history? Sure, if it was an original copy of ritual by W. Cole, I'd say yeah. But a pin just doesn't have any historical value.

Now, which would benefit the greater good of the fraternity?

A. Buying an old pin for $3,000 with no historical value, other than being old.

B. Donating that $3,000 to a scholarship fund, or using it to help a struggling chapter out with recruitment.

Tom mentioned "history saved". But what exactly is saved? Is every LXA item over 50 years old worth $1,000's of dollars simply to save history?

What are we accomplishing here? We do so to "preserve history" and therefore "better LXA"? If you like a shiny old object, that's one thing. But paying that much money for it to "better LXA" doesn't fly.

So you are saying that if it was in fact an original LXA badge with Delta Phi instead of Delta Pi, that it wouldn't be worth a bit of money. Or even a founding member's TKN badge, that is truly 'History Saved', these items are very relevant to our history, these items will never be made again and only a few have survived to the present date. None of us (well maybe one or two) know the history of that Sigma Chi badge, but obviously it went to its 'rightful' owner (A Sigma Chi, and collector) I mean if a 1910 LXA badge was to appear right now on ebay, hopefully someone would buy it to save something that is pretty priceless in a lot of people's eyes. So im just saying that sure the money could be put to a better use, but buying a piece of history is important too. A lot of times you need to look at where you have been to understand where you are going.

In ZAX

But what history does a pin have? It's just a piece of metal.

How does having a small pin help understand "where you are going"?

A pin is NOT a piece of history. It is not relevant to our founding. Original letters related to our founding is history. Finding out where someone is buried is history.

So, again I ask the question:

Now, which would benefit the greater good of the fraternity?

A. Buying an old pin for $3,000 with no historical value, other than being old.

B. Donating that $3,000 to a scholarship fund, or using it to help a struggling chapter out with recruitment.

Anyone?

I know the guy too!
 

The first LCA badge I ever bought on ebay, I got from him. Since then, I have met him in person several times, and he's a very nice guy. As Docroc says, he's a doctor - a cardiologist I believe.

The Sigma Chi pin is from the college where he attended med school. That's one of the reasons he wanted it. He really didn't think it would sell for so much, though. Sometimes people place high bids "just to be sure".

As for the money, maybe the seller is putting his/her kid through college, or donated it to some charity. Who knows. Who cares? The money simply changed hands - it didn't disappear off the face of the earth.