What Makes a Badge Collectible and Valuable? What makes antique badges collectible and valuable? As with any collectible there is an appreciation for the craftsmanship, quality, and history that is embedded within an artifact. Badges have a special place not just for the pure history, but also because they represent power, authority, justice, ...
Material – Badges made of Sterling Silver or Gold are more valuable than those made of brass, steel, tin, copper, or other materials. These badges also tend to be engraved, enameled, or otherwise decorated and often were given as presentation badges for career achievement.
Provenance – Provenance is important for multiple reasons. First, it’s important because it can help authenticate a badge and make sure it’s not a fake. More importantly perhaps, is the historical story it adds to the piece.
Badges have a special place not just for the pure history, but also because they represent power, authority, justice, and sacrifice. The men and women who wore law, fire, and transportation badges all made sacrifices and braved the odds to do their jobs every day.
Generally, names on the front of the badge add more value than a name on the reverse.