Sigma Chi Badge $3,050.01

[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!

[GammaZeta]

No Tom, you are wrong.

There is a vast difference between the burial place of our founder and a generic pin.

Please tell me exactly what a pin has to offer to "history" that we already don't know? It's not like we don't know our symbols. It's not like we don't know what they mean. It's not like we don't know what our CoA is. And anyways, we have a PICTURE of it.

Here's what I'm trying to say.

To blow $3,000 dollars on a shiny old pin is one thing.

To blow $3,000 dollars on a shiny old pin in the name of "preserving" history and to "better" LXA is a completely different argument.

[Tom Earp]

While that may true in your perception, others feel differently and that is our or their decission!

You still did not answer My question, do you still have your Badge and why?

[GammaZeta]

No Tom, I do not have my badge. It never mattered to me, it was just a cheap plastic manufactured pin. I DO have the stuff with REAL history though. My brick, photos, certificate, stuff that cannot be manufactured.

Now Tom, no one has explained to me exactly what contribution to our history does a small metal pin make???

If someone could possibly explain to me how buying an old pin for $3,000 TRULY benefits our "history", rather than helping a brother out with a scholarship.

Tell me what secrets it would reveal. What part of our history is missing that the pin could fill in? How does having the pin increase our actual knowledge of the past?

[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!

[GammaZeta]

There is a difference between an old pin, and an old pin that has some historical significance.

I'd REALLY like to know exactly HOW a pin holds historical significance, or if it's just old. Did it belong to the founder?

I'm going to be very disappointed if the reason it's going for over $3,000 isn't good.

[CPickering]

yes i too am curious as to why this pin went for so much.

[Tom Earp]

AGE would be the answer.

Can you even imagine whar a LXA Delta Phi Badge would go for?

[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