What’s with the fascination?

I have ancient coins with it, and I have some German coins, with it. I don't feel dirty owning them. I treat them as any other coin. It's a part of history.

There is people who collect stuff from serial killers, murders, and other criminals. I find that a bit off-putting, but, too each their own.

 

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So one experience I had was when I was helping a local Boy Scout Troop earn their coin collecting merit badge. I brought an entire box full of world coins for them to pick through. I watched one father with Viking tattoos coach his son to hunt for and pull every single coin in there with a swastika. He did not take the 25-50 coins he needed to collect for the merit badge, he stopped when he exhausted the nazi coins. I took that to mean they were sympathizing with nazis. You're welcome to interpret it differently, but it seemed clear to me.

I never said, nor do I feel, that this is uniquely an American problem. I have found those who show sympathy to the nazis in several countries. The difference is, most other countries do not sell nazi coins or memorabilia. In fact, some countries ban it because they believe it's spreading nazi propaganda. It would be extremely unusual to go to a dealer in Germany and see a grouping of nazi coins, for example.

I'd like to believe that the group of people who "don't want others to have the coins" is as small as the group who collects them because they support the nazis. I think a lot of people (this thread included) misunderstand disdain for a coin as somehow meaning they want to keep others from having it. I have no issues with people collecting these coins, I have issues with people who show reverence to them.

 

Personally I find the Nazi swastika a repugnant symbol, as do the vast majority of people around the globe. Understanding the historical context is important, and any attempt to romanticize it or glorify it is an insult to the US and allied soldiers, airmen and sailors who sacrificed their lives to stanch the spread of hate and genocide, as well as to the victims of this systematic murder of millions.

Personally I would never own any coin or banknote with this symbol. I understand that some collectors might own these numismatic items as representatives of one of humanity's darkest periods and I suppose that's okay. Context is everything.

I do have several 10 marks coins from the Lodz Ghetto date 1943. These aluminum coins were issued by the residents to serve as currency within the ghetto, under Nazi auspices. I keep these coins as a remembrance of the Holocaust.

Also, last week was the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising.

Here are a couple of them:

Lodz Ghetto, 1943, 10 marks.
2.55 grams



Lodz Ghetto, 1943, 10 marks.
3.53 grams



I also have a 20 marks coin, but it is of questionable authenticity. The weight is on the light side.

Lodz Ghetto, Aluminum/Magnesium? 20 marks, 1943.
33.45 mm, 4.88 grams

 

Very cool pieces! I’d love to own an example of these.

 

Kindly refrain from political posts.

 

That is a wonderfully profound statement.

It's a question of morality, and not political in any way.

 

I posted what I posted.

Kindly check your offendedness and judgementalism.

Z

 

The concept of erasing history is a political one and has nothing to do with my post. Not a single person on here has suggested we do anything of the sort. Also, the line below on that image promoted a political news organization.

 

No one is erasing history, it’s something you’ve imagined on your own. Just as you imagined that you you’ve somehow offended me. Hardly the case

 

I have no idea who patriotpost.us is, nor whether it is left or right, nor indeed do I care which it is. I just think it would be a good starting point as a set of values.

 

I think a better starting point is the Bible, but to each their own. That comment has nothing to do with my original post. No one is erasing or destroying history, no one has even suggested it. In fact, I said multiple times that I own some of those coins and don’t have issue with others owning them.

What I did say though, is that I take issue with nazi sympathizers. I said one should not present a murderous regime in a positive manner, nor should anyone revere objects that represent them. I sincerely apologize for having offended you and @ZoidMeister with my comments. Have a blessed day.

 

Honestly not sure that was political

 

Keep religion out of this; IMO, worse than politics.

 

How can you figure out the motivations of buyers in an online auction?

More than glorifying that era, I wonder if the buyers are more motivated to buy what they perceive as rare or very rare coins (even if they aren't).

I think the same questions could be asked of people who own colonial coins of Africa and Asia or coins of communist dictatorships or even coins concurrent with other genocides in other countries, but I have never seen that.

 

Come on guys let’s get real, this is a coin collecting forum and like it or not the nazi regime coins are just that coins. I have an example of every one of them that were issued, why ?? Because they are an important part of European and German history, I have more reason than some to detest the nazis as I am part Jewish but I am also a history nut and an avid coin collector of many years standing.

 

So this is slightly on topic I guess. How does this get slabbed at PCGS? It's a pin the shape of an airplane.
https://www.pcgs.com/cert/43387859

 

My own impression is that people are drawn to nazi era coins for the same reasons so many people are fascinated by true crime documentary TV shows or like to watch horror movies. It’s not that they sympathize with serial killers, or that they wish supernatural hockey mask wearing murderers were real, it’s just a matter of human nature that some people are fascinated by things that are dark and scary. Same goes for when people go to the zoo and want to see sharks, crocodiles, cobras, and other dangerous, deadly creatures. I personally own some Soviet era coins, mostly because I grew up during the Cold War and remember the hammer and sickle symbol as something very sinister and frightening as a child in that era. I can’t really explain the fascination, but it is certainly not borne out of admiration or sympathizing.

 

Wow,that's actually pretty cool and neat,most likely a metal detecting find,what's next on the list?a banana sticker struck on a gold blank.