CALIFORNIA STATE POLICE

This badge has appeared on one of the auction sites. It is being advertised as a California State Police badge with the hallmark of "Irvin & Jachens, 1027 Market St SF" hallmark. The badge displays the number 119. The badge is not department issue and is worthless as a collectible.

The hallmark is wrong, in the wrong place on the star leg, and the badge displays the wrong fonts. This is not something you want in your collection unless you collect movie prop badges. The seller is asking $600 for a badge that is worth, maybe, $50 for material and parts. He does state that it has a working pin. That's a plus. This is a good illustration of a bad reproduction. "Irvin" is actually spelled Irvine.

The seller does not state that this is a "department issue" badge. He is correct... it isn't and never has been.