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Relic Battlefield-Found Enigma Rotor

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Relic Battlefield-Found Enigma Rotor

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Auction Date:2020 Jul 16 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Original World War II–era rotor from a German Enigma machine, dug from the ground in a WWII battlefield. This is Enigma rotor no. V with a serial number of A6324, indicating that it was manufactured in Berlin in 1937. Initially, Enigma machines were issued with three rotors; beginning in 1937, they were produced with five rotors in order to increase their cryptographic security. Those machines already in use by the military—like the one that would have received this fifth rotor—were issued rotors "IV" and "V" with matching serial numbers.

This rotor was likely discarded from an Enigma machine before the Enigma machine was destroyed at the end of WWII. The Germans did not know that the Allies had broken the Enigma codes. Therefore, there were standing orders not to let these top secret cipher machines be captured by the Allies. As a German position was being overrun or preparing to surrender, any Enigma machines would be intentionally destroyed. The German soldiers would shoot, kick, run over with a vehicle, or even blow up with a hand grenade any Enigma machines at risk of capture. Some Enigma machines and their rotors would then be thrown into lakes, rivers, or the ocean to further hide the machines from advancing Allied forces.

This original Enigma rotor is intact and in stable condition. There is corrosion and rust on various metal surfaces and several of the spring-loaded contacts have seized in place.