RARE OBSOLETE 1850s-1870\'s PITTSBURGH POLICE COIN SILVER BADGE SUPERB For Sale

Presented for thecollector of vintage police badges or Pittsburgh Police ephemera is this wonderful, early Pittsburgh Police badge. I would date this badge from the 1850\'s to the 1870\'s. The badge is jeweler-made of silver with a hand engraved design. The current version of the Pittsburgh Police badge was adopted in 1873 according to my research; thus, this badge must predate 1873. It probably predates any formal design such as the familiar circular one in use today. The arms of the City of Pittsburgh were carried over into the 1873 version of the badge. This badge also displays the arms of the city of Pittsburgh. The seal of the city ofPittsburgh was designed and adopted in 1816 and was based, in part, upon the seal of William Pitt, the First Earl of Chatam. In 1845, much of Pittsburgh was destroyed by fire. This fire claimed all of the documents and material related to the seal; thus, it had to be recreated based upon the memory of those familiar with it. This badge incorporates several of those elements to include the fortress and checkerboard design. The three gold coins have been eliminated to allow for inclusion of thewords \"PITTSBURGH POLICE.\" The engraving is of an antiquated form; thus, this badge could predate the formal establishment of the force and date to the period of night watchmen of the 1830\'s or 1840\'s. I could find no evidence of a similar specimen. If this one does predate the 1845 fire, the lack of surviving specimens would not be surprising since pre-1845 material from Pittsburgh is somewhat scarce. The badge is cut from coin silver and measures about 2 inches by 2 inches across its widest points. The obverse features an adaptation of the Pittsburgh coat of arms with a shield surmounted by a fortress. The shield bears the familiar checkered pattern still in use today. \"PITTSBURGH POLICE\" is engraved in script. The reverse features a hinged pin and open loop catch characteristic of mid-19th century manufacture. The badge has been lightly cleaned by the picker who I obtained this from, but he wasn\'t aggressive about it and there is some oxidation remaining on the badge. This rare badge would make a wonderful addition to any collection of early law enforcement badges or Pittsburgh Police ephemera. ! Please see my other listings for items which may interest you. Good luck!

NOTE: The shipping charges are reflective of USPS Priority Mail rates and additional packing materials. I will invoice only those shipping and insurance charges (if more than the basic $50 coverage rate is required) obtained from the USPS website with special expenses or previously discussed requests excepted. International buyers should contact me to discuss terms, insurance, and or viability of shipping to your country. Specialized packing materials, boxes, or other arrangements may cost more with large or oddly-sized items. Pleaseunderstand the extra cost and time involved if that is necessary.I will make the shippingas safe, secure, above board, and cheap as possible.

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Payment: Payment in full must be received within 3 days of the close of the sale.

Shipping: USPS Priority Mail is my \"service of choice.\" If you want something different let me know and I will attempt to accommodate you if I can. Oddly shaped items that do not fit into the standard Priority Mail boxes may be more or less expensive depending on weight. The beauty of Priority Mail is that it is a flat rate. Contact me at the close of the sale if you feel the need to choose another USPS service or carrier. Large items or items requiring a special box, packing, or freight charges will require a little more legwork on my part, but I will make every effort to get it to you as safely, quickly,and economically practical as possible and will promptly update you accordingly. I will combine shipping on multiple purchases when applicable.

Returns: Items are sold \"as is.\" In other words, I don\'t accept returns. If you aredissatisfied with the photographs or description, please ask any question you may have before the close of the sale. Please do not renege on the contract through a lack of communication. Again, I\'ll be more than happy at any time to indulge your questions about a particular item or aspect of condition. Please consult my response profile and you will see three trends: superlative packing,prompt service/communication, and accurate descriptions.

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