A Early Quality Manufacture Kriegsmarine Destroyer War Badge by Schwerin of Berlin

A fine early quality textbook example of a “Zerstörerkriegsabzeichen”; gilded and silvered tombac oval wreath of laurel leaves with a national eagle perched on the top of the badge clutching a swastika, and a side-view of a destroyer cutting through a wave, with the bow of the ship extending over the wreath; plain reverse, with a center catch for stabilization and a horizontal slender banjo style pinback with a barrel hinge and a flat wire catch; maker marked “Schwerin, Berlin 68” on the reverse; measuring 53.63 mm x 44.88 mm; weighing 24.1 grams; with the original gilding very well preserved, but with scattered loss to the silvering on the waves due to age and wear; overall near extremely fine condition.