A ring belonging to Adolf Hitler sold yesterday at Alexander Historical Auctions for $55,000. The ring was the lead item in a sale of militaria.
The ring was made from silver and was originally plated in gold. It features a 16mm mobile swastika with ruby encrusted arms and was designed by high-ranking Nazi official and jeweller Karl Berthold. A US soldier recovered it in the closing days of the war and while it is confirmed to be genuine it is not known whether Hitler ever wore it.
 The ring features a mobile swastika with ruby encrusted arms |
Other items at the auction included a gold Reichsjagermeister collar pin that belonged to Herman Goering. Featuring a gold stag's head surrounded by emeralds and sapphires, it hammered for $17,000 - comfortably within its $15-20,000 estimate.
Auctioneer Bill Panagopulos commented that the ring was the rarest of items the fuhrer owned and one that he would often show to admirers. He went on to describe the two items of jewellery as "testament to the excesses of the third reich".
A stained glass window sold for $14,000, up 100% on its initial valuation of $7,000. It featured a representation of the Coburg badge - a commendation given to Nazi veterans of a 1922 clash with political opponents.
Other non-second world war items included a Mexican presidential guard helmet from the late 19th century - which hammered for $14,000, up 366% on its pre-sale estimate of $3,000.
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