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EXTREMELY RARE GOLD US COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGES

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
EXTREMELY RARE GOLD US COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGES
FOR THE 5th, 6th, 7th, AND 8th AWARD OF THE CIB & MINIATURE GOLD US COMBAT INFANTRY BADGES ALSO FOR THE 5th, 6th, 7th, AND 8th AWARD. These Combat Infantry Badges in gold are so rare that they are nearly never seen on the collector's market. The miniature Combat Infantry Badges are just as rare as the larger versions. The miniatures were to be worn with formal dinner attire. The first four awards were in silver, and the gold badge was authorized by Army Regulation 672-5-1 in 1963 to represent the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th awards. Although authorized, no gold award has been officially issued to a soldier. The silver CIBs with two stars for the third award has only been issued 325 times, and no soldier has ever earned the silver badge with three stars. The design for the gold badges was approved on the 11 October 1963. L.G. Balfour was awarded the contract to produce the badges on 15 May 1964. 12 samples of each of the large badges and 12 samples of each of the miniature badges were produced by Balfour and sent to the Institute of Heraldry. The badge received final approval by Lt. Col. Steve G. Davis, Commanding Officer of the Institute of Heraldry, on 10 May 1965. The badges are sterling silver with 1/10 10K gold plating. The background of the musket panel is blue Duco. The reverse on the 5th, 6th, and 7th awards is marked “BALFOUR 1/10 10K GF” for one tenth ten karat gold-filled. The reverse of the 8th award is unmarked. The badges are 3” across, and the miniature badges are 1 3/4” across. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: photocopies of information pertaining to the authorization and production of the four gold CIB awards. A copy of a letter from Balfour discussing the production of the badges. A copy of shipping documents from Balfour to the Institute of Heraldry. CONDITION: all badges are in unissued condition. (02-20922, 02-20923/BF). $2,000-3,000.