Here is a Schwerin Destroyer badge that i sold some time ago that was in superb condition and probably unworn.
Cheers,Martin.
Here is a Schwerin Destroyer badge that i sold some time ago that was in superb condition and probably unworn.
Cheers,Martin.
Is mint something that was made at the time, but not issued and used for its intended purpose and therefore it has no history other than "It was there". I always wanted a stone mint German helmet, but then thinking about it, a helmet with some battle damage has a lot more to say than one that has sat on a shelf somewhere. I like mint items but they don't really tell a story, more than what they actually are.
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Hi Guys
I would say this unmarked 26 cross is pretty close to mint.
Best regards, fischer
This attributed Hermann Wernstein ISA is also minty IMO.
Best Regards, fischer
considering the age of these items,mint means as near to factory finish as possible to get.
I think it comes down to what each collector defines as mint. Sure there are definitions of mint as far as coins, stamps and other similar items go, but there is more tolerance when it comes to stretching the definition of mint in the militaria collectors world. A truly mint item will have the appearance of being hot off the assembly line or out of the factory.
I also feel my 26 EKI is a prime example of mint, but someone else may say no, and that's their prerogative.
Hi Guys,
Interesting topic. The word "mint" is defined as "in pristine condition, as new", so technically it does not mean "perfect". A perfectly constructed item with complete unblemished finish over its entire surface would be "perfect" but that standard does not have to be met to be "mint", in my opinion. I believe Martin's term of "unissued/unworn" would often (but not always) qualify as mint. If you walked into an LDO shop in 1942, I'm sure the brand new stock would most often still show some surface imperfections since that's the nature of hand-finished items like this. That would be mint but not necessarily perfect, and indeed "perfection" is itself somewhat subjective.
I think all mint items are unworn, but not all unworn items are mint since some may have aged poorly. Here are a couple of items I would call mint even though they're not perfect.
Best regards,
---Norm
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