Old DPhiE badge - on e-b-a-y

Denise_DPhiE · #1 09-30-2002, 09:10 AM

Why did I spell it out? So if someone searches for the whole word, it won't come up (several of you had a GC thread from 2001 which gave the price it sold for last year $1200-$1300). This forum can be used against us!!

I was contacted last night by a new pin collector who has obtained the old version (minus scroll) of our badge. He is in need of cash and although he wants the badge to come back to us, he needs the money more (he found the price one sold for last year here on GC). I can understand this. The reason fro this post is so that none of you get your "knickers in a twist" about it being out there in the auction world. I have an agreement with the seller that if it is not purchased, I will trade him several high value pins which he can then turn over for cash and he could also have a 1918 version of his own fraternity pin, as well.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Denise_DPhiE
Director of Expansion

shadokat · #2 09-30-2002, 10:03 AM

So what if it does get sold to someone else? No "knickers in a twist" here, but I still hate to see someone who isn't a D Phi E get the pin. Do you have an agreement then??

Denise_DPhiE · #3 09-30-2002, 12:24 PM

No, if it sells, it sells. But, I only know one collector with pockets that deep (see the price). He may buy it but know knows. The pins is not engraved and not from the early years so I am not as bothered by it. The pearls are full and stand out so it is 1940-1948 or so, if it was earlier the pearls would have been more "smooshed" into the gold and not as visible.

I know that whoever gets it will treasure it, DPhiE or not.

Denise

texas*princess · #4 09-30-2002, 12:38 PM

I saw that pin on ebay! I was so in awe of it! It is very pretty.

FuzzieAlum · #5 09-30-2002, 01:45 PM

Is it OK for me as an outsider to ask why the scrolling was added? I think it makes the pin look a lot more distinctive, but it's a beautiful pin either way.

Denise_DPhiE · #6 09-30-2002, 03:14 PM

Hi Fuzzie! I read so many of your posts but have never had the opportunity to reply.

The scroll was added when we joined NPC in 1952. In order to join NPC we had to distinguish our badge from the two current NPC members badges which were also triangles with pearls, Sigma Kappa (whose center is burgundy(?) enamel) and Sigma Sigma Sigma. It is more likely that our badge then would have been mixed up with SSS and not SK.

The seller got his info from me, we had only 1500 initiates when the badge changed. He has 1, I have 4 (thanks to those pin collectors who everyone compains about) , our past Int'l president has 2 (one from e-b-a-y) and HQ has a few. Oh, and one collector has one too but the rest of the collectors found a way to get them to me (through sale or notifying me of what antique shop they were at).

Let me know if you have any questions!

Denise_DPhiE
Director of Expansion

FuzzieAlum · #7 09-30-2002, 04:04 PM

Oh, interesting! Thanks for sharing.

Iris · #8 09-30-2002, 11:43 PM

............where is the bidding at now??? Might be a dumb question, but has anyone contacted HH to see if she might be interested in purchasing it for preservation and historical sake??

Iris

shadokat · #9 10-01-2002, 01:39 PM

Where'd it go?!?! It's not listed anymore!

Denise_DPhiE · #10 10-01-2002, 01:40 PM

The auction has ended and I am working out a trade with the seller for it. THIS IS ONE REASON WHY COLLECTING PINS IS A REALLY GOOD THING!!!

I do not recall there being a $1200-$1300 sale of one last year but I do know one collector paid about $800 for one (not sure if it was HH's husband or the collector with the deeper pockets I mentioned earlier). There were two in the last year or two on on e-b-a-y. I thought the other one went for $500 but I could be wrong. So far all the ones I've ever seen looked the same (like this one) except my 1928 version which is much flatter and has the smooshed pearls. It is from Eta Chapter. As I may have mentioned, I have 4 of these, three pins and one pin which is on a 14k disk/charm.

Denise_DPhiE

texas*princess · #11 10-01-2002, 07:57 PM

I'm glad everything is working out

And that was very interesting information on why the badge changed.. thanks Denise_DPhiE !

Peaches-n-Cream · #12 10-02-2002, 12:35 AM

Denise, Good job rescuing this historically significant pin. You should display your older pins on this or another website so we can see them; I mean if you want to and if you have time.

Denise_DPhiE · #13 10-02-2002, 10:01 AM

Cream-

Great idea! I don't know how to post photos here but you can visit my yahoo club which I moderate at

I have four old versions (soon to be 5 when the the pin that was on e-b-a-y that I traded for arrives), the 4th which is not there is an IVY-LEAGUER! It is soldered onto a 14k round disk charm with a pearled Nu chapter guard which is our dormant chapter at UPenn. There is a regular pin on the far right for comparison. The one on the left is 1928 (initials engraved and that is how we dated it) and the other two are later probably 1940-1948.

Denise_DPhiE

fire1977 · #14 10-02-2002, 07:55 PM

you have one from our chapter???

Denise_DPhiE · #15 10-02-2002, 09:11 PM

Fire-

If you are from Pitt, yes. See the photo on the yahoo page.
The pin is from 1928.

Denise_DPhiE