Sigma Chi Badge $3,050.01

[docroc67]

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

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

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.

[GammaZeta]

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.

[Trey_P-I_47]

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

[GammaZeta]

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?

[JonoBN41]

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.

[EM1843]

Gamma, I understand your argument and I agree. However, most people want something tangible for their money. That is why chapters have plaqes with donors names on them.

[Tom Earp]

History is just that, history.

If we did not care about history then why strive so hard to find Warren A. Coles burial place?

As docroc stated it is there to do and find and keep. Well, kind of.

Keeping History whether it be a small peice of metal as you say GammaZeta it is History, mine, yours or ours. Ergo, the great quest to find Warren Coles burial place.

Do you still have your Badge? Do you want to keep it and why? Does it mean anything to you? If so, why?

The articles that Mike Raymond writes about History are the first one I read when our C & C comes out.

As some sage once wrote, if you do not watch History, then one is apt to make the same mistakes! Well in my words of course!

History is 1 second ago, the future is now and forever!

[SigmaChi005]

I've held this badge!!! I met him at our chapter's chartering. He is a noteworhty Sig and I am thankful he purchased this pin. I think they might be doing a story on this SIGnificant pin in our magazine. I'll pass on the article, I think it will clear up this discussion.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by SigmaChi005

I've held this badge!!! I met him at our chapter's chartering. He is a noteworhty Sig and I am thankful he purchased this pin. I think they might be doing a story on this SIGnificant pin in our magazine. I'll pass on the article, I think it will clear up this discussion.

Thanks for the post!

As I mentioned, to a Brother, I am sure if one of this significance of LXA would come up it would go to big bucks for us!

[sageofages]

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

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 couldn't agree with you more. Recently (in the last 6 months or so) a "historically" significant badge for the Philomathean Society was up for auction. A donor (through our foundation) bid over $5000 for it. They were prepared to go much much higher to get it into our archives. The original sister/owner was from the second ever pledge class and at that time each badge was hand made and slightly different. The sad thing was it was the foundation bidding against a sister who could afford it, to raise the price so high.

[GammaZeta]

Tom, here we go again.

I DO NOT believe age makes something historical. Valueable in a monetary since, absolutely. Valueable in a historical since to LXA, no way.

If I wait a 100 years and sell my LXA certificate, will it be worth $10,000? Why should it or shouldn't it be worth $10,000?

I didn't do anything significant to influence LXA....yet. The certificate is one of a few surviving.

But what makes it valueable in a historical since. What information would it provide? What would we learn from it that we don't already know?

Being OLD doesn't cut it for me. Hell, I think I may kidnap Earp and put him on Ebay! Earp's REALLY old, imagine how much I would get for him!!!

Now, no one has explained to me yet exactly how an old LXA pin would be historically significant, other than being OLD.

Now, if it was W. Cole's pin or a pin that portrayed a CoA that no one has ever seen before, then you can make an argument.

Other than that, give the $3,000 to a LXA scholarship.

[Trey_P-I_47]

I think Tom would differ with you about him being old.......I think 'Mature' would be his word of preference.....although I am certain Tom would fetch quite a bit of $$$$$$ on ebay today