Value of old badges
Learn what affects old badge value, including maker, service branch, material, condition, grouping, and auction evidence.
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Learn what affects old badge value, including maker, service branch, material, condition, grouping, and auction evidence.
Auction records are market evidence, not a final appraisal. Condition, authenticity, provenance, size, maker, completeness, legality, and demand can materially change value.
Quick checklist
- Photograph the full item, maker marks, serials, inscriptions, measurements, materials, accessories, cases, scabbards, labels, and documents.
- Document condition before cleaning: corrosion, sharpening, repairs, missing parts, moth damage, replaced components, fading, holes, and restoration.
- Keep provenance, service records, capture papers, certificates, unit history, receipts, and related groups together.
Note: We couldn’t find enough auction records that directly match Value of old badges to publish a defensible price table. If you are valuing a specific item, include its maker, model, material, photos, and condition so the search can be narrowed.
What similar items actually sold for
To help ground this guide in real market activity, here are recent example auction comps from Appraisily’s internal database. These matched sales are market context only, not an object estimate or identification, and they do not guarantee a price for your specific antique badge.
Shown USD range: USD 30-USD 8,500. Median of these 10 USD examples: USD 175.
| Comparable | What sold | Auction house | Date | Lot | Source-reported amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
4 OBSOLETE NEW YORK FIRE DEPARTMENT BADGE LOT | Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC | 2023-04-26 | 1038 | USD 70 (buyer’s-premium treatment unknown) |
 |
ANTIQUE POLICE BADGESource blocked; provenance matched | Davis Brothers Auction | 2022-11-25 | 83 | USD 240 (buyer’s-premium treatment unknown) |
 |
GOLD DEPUTY SHERIFF BADGE.Source blocked; provenance matched | Morphy Auctions | 2023-10-25 | 1051 | USD 1,300 (buyer’s-premium treatment unknown) |
 |
Bud Abbott Vintage Special Denison Police BadgeSource blocked; provenance matched | GWS Auctions | 2024-03-30 | 307 | USD 225 (buyer’s-premium treatment unknown) |
 |
BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT BADGE Circa 1850 Height 3”.Source blocked; provenance matched | Eldred's | 2023-04-06 | 7284 | USD 8,500 (buyer’s-premium treatment unknown) |
 |
US Indian Police BadgeSource blocked; provenance matched | Atlee Raber Auctioneer | 2025-02-17 | 459 | USD 125 (buyer’s-premium treatment unknown) |
 |
Celina Texas Fire Department BadgeSource blocked; provenance matched | Davis Brothers Auction | 2024-08-11 | 60 | USD 30 (buyer’s-premium treatment unknown) |
 |
DEPUTY SHERIFF BADGE & PHOTOS 1890-1900 [185732]Source blocked; provenance matched | Holabird Western Americana | 2024-11-23 | 3357 | USD 450 (buyer’s-premium treatment unknown) |
 |
LYONS KANSAS FIRE DEPARTMENT BADGESource blocked; provenance matched | Davis Brothers Auction | 2022-11-25 | 109 | USD 60 (buyer’s-premium treatment unknown) |
 |
Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard Badge Plus Police Badge | Gary R. Wallace Auctioneers Inc. | 2025-01-22 | 69 | USD 120 (buyer’s-premium treatment unknown) |
How these auction records were verified
Each row retains its exact source URL, lot identity, retrieval time, access result, and immutable record hash. Live source access was blocked; the exact record matched Appraisily's immutable pipeline provenance. Inspect the public comparable provenance record.
Disclosure: prices are shown as reported by auction houses and are provided for appraisal context. Learn more in our editorial policy.
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