Berchtesgaden Brass Plate

Q: I bought a brass plate at a tag sale for a very inconsequential amount, thinking it might have a Hitler connection. It has a shield-shaped coat of arms and the word “Berchtesgaden,” and a coat of arms with crossed keys and trefoils with a smaller shield in the middle. The back of the plate has a date scratched on it, “015-05-1838.” The plate is nine inches across and looks hand hammered. Can you tell me the age and value?

A: The date doesn’t seem to be important in the history of Berchtesgaden but would indicate it was long before it was a retreat for Hitler and other Nazi leaders. Your plate does have the Berchtesgaden coat of arms in the center. Since the numbers on the back of the plate are scratched in, the date probably commemorates something meaningful only to the person who originally owned the plate. A 9-inch plate, with handwork, sells for about $50-$75.