Unusaul Bavarian 1896 Crownless Wappen

Steve Nick

Well-known member
I recently purchased this Wappen in a group lot.

From the photos provided by the seller (there were 11 plates in the lot) I figured this one was a piece of junk because the owner had cut the crown off after the Bavarian monarchy had been overthrown. I think we've all seen Wappens de-faced by late war socialists/communists who cut the crowns off helmet plates. I assumed this was another example and valued it at next to zero.

On receiving it I've had to re-think this. It appears that this wappen was die struck without the crown. This doesn't appear to have been removed as there are no sharp edges and the cut radius is flawless.

Has anyone seen another example of this Wappen? Maybe it isn't rare, but I've never seen or heard tell of one before.
 

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I'm not up on the official status uf the Bavarian Army after the establishment of the republic. But I do know that many Bav. units served post war in Russia under British control. Also, could the plate be for police or some civil authority post war?
 
aicusv said:
I'm not up on the official status uf the Bavarian Army after the establishment of the republic. But I do know that many Bav. units served post war in Russia under British control. Also, could the plate be for police or some civil authority post war?

I had no idea that Bavarian units served in Russia under British control. Learning something every day.

Your thought as to it having been produced for some post war civil authority was my first thought as well.

Strange that I've never seen one before.
 
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