Inaugural Police Badges
We are often asked, how collectors can tell the difference between original and reproduction traditional Inaugural Police Badges. To our knowledge there are no books or resource material. So we asked James Blickensdorf, one of the leading authorities on these badges for help. He was kind enough to put together his thoughts an opinions here. A big thank you to James.
TRADITIONAL INAUGURAL BADGES
By James Blickensdorf
There are a couple of years that have been duplicated since the first one in 1937. The 1941 has been reproduced by castings, stampings and forging. It’s probably the most reproduction of all the badges. Some of the casting/forgings will contain pock marks indicated by the air as the cooling process completes. Some of these will have a number stamped which is poorly done, and some have either Blackinton,Tiff, or the word silver stamped on the facing or on the reverse facing.
Some of the bad stampings will not have a tongue clasp, they will put a burgess clasp on it.
The 1949 has been reproduced by forgings. Air pockets give it away and the fact the the reverse facing isn’t sharp and crisp as the stampings. It’s very rough and smooth from the pouring process. Some of the bad stampings will have a burgess clasp on the badge. The burgess clasp did t come out until mid 1950’s. And the badge should have the tongue clasp.
The 1945 anniversary badge which was made to fill the vacant years due to the war has been duplicated by stampings. Keep in mind that there were only 100 badges made in 1995. Each badge has a control number placed in the top right oval on the facing. On the reverse there will be a hallmark of Blackinton and below It “ster”. There will be a inscription “50th ANNIVERSARY” capital letters. Below the inscription is 1945-1995. The reproduction will have either the years missing, or the hallmark with ster. The badge will contain a burgess clasp.
The 1969 has been reproduced by stampings, and forgings.
The forgings will be poorly done and might have a number stamped in the top right oval. And some reproduction for this year as very good stampings and really look good with the exception that they will put a number in the top right oval on the facing. And there are a wide and variety of number that have been used. As you might know the numbering for the early badges stopped at the end of Eisenhower terms, in 1961 Blackinton stopped the numbering system and changed the badge appearance on the facing with no oval for numbers. I have seen a lot of reproductions for 1969 and a few of the 1973 done the same way.
The remaining years you need to watch out for the “Gode” wording or the little design stampings on these badges for reproductions. Plus some of them on the reverse facing has a texturing.
