Coin Universe Brain Trust: What is this?

braddick

I've had this one in my collection for awhile and for the life of me have never found any information on it, nor have a couple of Dealers I've shown it to known exactly what it is or its purpose. Help? (I know it's German, but I'm hoping between all of us here, on this Forum, I will run into information on it!)
The Sacawagea is next to it for size. Help?

Russ

Identification tag for a nazi concentration camp.

Russ, NCNE

airplanenut

I'd bet military ID tag... GEN. KDO probably means general something, and the Ne probably means number... Ausweis is probably for Aushwitz, the concentration camp or city the person was assigned for duty.

My 2 cents,

Jeremy

Steve27

It appears to be some type of identity tag for a member of the ministry for job enrichment (or something like that), but has nothing to do with the Aushwitz concentration camp. For a better answer try the World Coin forum (don't be afraid they don't attack US coin collectors).

cdmead

I checked with one of the Evil Empire™ catalogers who happens to collect Nazi militaria.

What you have is most likely an equipment tag.

AMT FUR SICHERUNGS AUFCABEN = office for security (unknown word)

SS HEIMWEHR DANZIG - Home defense force. They were set up before WW2 in the free city of Danzig. They were rolled into the 3rd SS Panzer Division (Deathshead division) in or around late 1939.

GEN KDO - General Kommanden (General Commanding)
Ne - probably a serial number

No idea what AUSWEIS means in this application.

This item was made circa 1938 - 39.

I hope this helps.

Charlie

BTW - the M/43/H is a manufacturer code, and doesn't have a date in it. You should be able to look up who cast this in books about medals. The Germans were very persnickity about records.


Edited to add BTW

1jester

Ausweis means ID, or badge. So you have a badge, and a badge number. On the reverse you have a stamped number and letters, and I feel the letters are the department that the badge pertains to, which would indicate exactly where the bearer of the badge was assigned, or had access to.

Obverse: Office for security assignments.

Cdmead says it was made in 1938/9. I have no idea. But I'm wondering if the small numbers on the obverse indicate the date of manufacture, for example M could be Militaer (military) and H could be Heimwehr, and 43 could stand for 1943. Although I don't know, it would seem reasonable.

Surely somebody around here knows some specifics about this SS outfit?

Good luck. Interesting badge!

braddick

You guys are killer! With what you have now given me I'll plan further research.
I don't know why, but this stuff has always intrigued me.

Thanks again for the information.

leothelyon

There's a dealer in my area who specializes in germany coins and stuff. This is also all he sells at major coin shows and he was at the FUN show but I don't know for certain if he had a table there. Jubilee Coins
is the name of his coin shop.

Leo

Askari

Well, you've pretty much got it -- it's a badge, not a coin! I don't collect badges, but I can tell you this is a very uncommon one.

"Amt für Sicherungs Aufgaben" means "Office for Security Tasks." The "M/43/H" could be a manufacturer's code, although Jester's suggestion is not impossible. "SS-Heimwehr Danzig" signifies a local SS defense or security service unit for Danzig. "Ausweis" typically indicates something like an "identity card" or identity badge." "Ne" is actually "Nr.", the German equivalent of "No." -- the pic is just blurry. "GEN.KDO" would appear to be the abbreviation for "Generalkommando" which indicates a corps headquarters or corps HQ staff.

My best guess would be that it is an identity badge for someone from the security force for SS-Heimwehr Danzig who was assigned to its HQ staff.