SS Germanic Proficiency Runes Badge in Bronze

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Germanische Leistungsrune in Bronze by Otto Gahr of Kremnitz. It is a multipiece construction, made out of a finezinc base that has been bronze washed, with die stamped tombak based runes that have been silver washed and contain black enamel work. The obverse features the SS runes above a sun-wheel swastika. The concave fullback reverse shows the four prongs that hold the runes in place, a soldered-on tombak sheet-metal hinge (with steel hinge-pin), a soldered-on tombak c-shaped catch and a tombak coke bottle pin. It shows minor zinc pest. The bronze wash and enamel work are gorgeous. It measures 46.51mm wide by 46.43mm high and weighs 32.00g.

Introduced by Heinrich Himmler (Reichsführer-SS) on August 15, 1943, the SS Germanic Proficiency Runes Badge was awarded, in either bronze or silver, to German and other Germanic men of the SS, who have distinguished themselves in sports competitions and shown spiritual maturity and sound personal thinking in the ideological field. The very first badge was personally awarded by Himmler on February 1, 1944. An estimated 866 of these badges were actually awarded, with only five known examples in silver. An incredibly rare and desirable award… You’d be lucky to find one in your lifetime.