Help with kkk belt buckle

[Rorexwesley]

I have this buckle that belonged to my father. He was murdered in 1988, so I know it's at least that old. Any information on the authenticity or the value of it would be appreciated.

 

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[GoDeep]

"In Good Standing" Interesting choice of words. It'd be "worth" it to melt it down and recycle it, so about .50 cents if that center is solid brass.

 

[Clay Diggins]

It looks like a bronze KKK token or coin that was later mounted in a nickle silver belt buckle.

"Member in Good Standing" was a common phrase on these items. I would check and see if you can unmount the center, these quite often had two different sides.

Value isn't that much without a verifiable history. Klan stuff doesn't have a big market. I'd guess between $35 and $50 as a retail price.

 

[Guardrailnickel]

Found something similar but not exact. The price was $150. 00.

 

[gunsil]

Strictly a "fantasy" item. That was/is a secret organization and they did not issue or have made any such buckles.

 

[Clay Diggins]

Maybe secret in New York but they were quite active and open in the south.

It could be a fantasy item. I don't know whose fantasy and I probably don't want to know them. Even if it is made to make money off their reputation the Klan were a popular organization in the South when I was younger. They were quite fond of displaying tokens, symbolism etc. and passing out literature in public.

 

[Deep1]

Any marking on the back.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Lets please keep it about the item and not start making posts about the politics of what it represented.

 

[Ghosthunter88]

let me give this a shot.
It could be an authentic member coin or medallion which was then set into the buckle. The group did actually have many items such as these coins/medallions but many were made by the individual chapters themselves and therefore very region specific.
So there are two possible answers here.
first answer and the most likely is it is a fantasy relic/reproduction item and may possibly sell for around 16.00 to 20.00 usd.
second possibly is it could be authentic and in that case circa 1975 i do believe. This does make it worth a little more...one sold at an auction for around 40 usd. But now lets remember beauty and value of such an item is truly in the eye of the beholder. Meaning its worth whatever someone is willing to offer for it.
whether or not you subscribe to such views that the piece represents, Id say the value is the fact that it was your fathers.

hope i helped.

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

https://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=41481
Appears to be a fantasy item, much like the Wells Fargo "corpse tag". Not a reproduction or a fake because no such original existed. Based on the limited research I did, the KKK never made a medallion like this and they only exist to sell to interested collectors. The KKK did make pins and coins, but they tend to be a little more subtle than this. I have one from a 1924 Tri state area meeting that was held in NJ, and you would have no idea where it came from without looking it up. I doubt anybody would ever wear this belt, so it is probably worth very little, if anything. Somebody might buy it to destroy it.

 

[Guardrailnickel]

(snip)The KKK did make pins and coins, but they tend to be a little more subtle than this. I have one from a 1924 Tri state area meeting that was held in NJ, and you would have no idea where it came from without looking it up. I doubt anybody would ever wear this belt, so it is probably worth very little, if anything. Somebody might buy it to destroy it. (snip)

They are still alive and well in Pa. and NJ. You are right some things are subtle. They have stood on our main street and even held a parade in my home town. I see pins and other items for sale at flea markets in the area. Some things are very obvious like the belt buckle and other not so much.

 

[Goodyguy]

View attachment 1815940 I have this buckle that belonged to my father. He was murdered in 1988, so I know it's at least that old. Any information on the authenticity or the value of it would be appreciated.

Check here...............
https://www.google.com/search?q=kkk...CJCp2qH21OgCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAe&biw=1519&bih=706


Similar items for sale here: https://kuklosknights.com/

 

[Clay Diggins]

If it's a fake then it must be a reproduction of the one in the Smithsonian.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2013.184

They put the age between 1915 - 1944.