What Is a Mutterkreuz Worth?

Updated: August 2026

The Gold grade with award case reaches up to around 110 euros, and rare miniatures with a maker's mark sit well above that. The Mutterkreuz was awarded in the millions — so its value comes less from the cross itself than from condition, case, issue packet and the accompanying document.

Guide Prices by Version and Condition

All figures are guide prices based on real sale and asking prices from German specialist dealers (as of August 2026). The actual price depends on the individual piece — send us photos and we'll give you a concrete figure.

What pushes the value up: the original award case or the issue packet with maker's imprint, the accompanying document bearing the recipient's name, undamaged enamel, and complete gilding or silver-plating. A Nachlass with a document and photograph of the recipient is more interesting to collectors than the cross alone.

Original or Fake?

Because of its low individual value, the Mutterkreuz is faked less often than high-value decorations. Even so, re-strikes are in circulation. Four features we check for:

1. No maker's mark on the cross. Contemporary full-size Mutterkreuz crosses carry no hallmark — the maker's name appeared only on the issue packet. A cross prominently marked is suspicious. Miniatures are different: these often carry an LDO number (such as L/60 for Gustav Brehmer). Source: militaria-berlin.de («Wie alle zeitgenössischen Mutterkreuze ohne Herstellermarkierung»), retrieved 2026-08-20
2. The reverse is stamped, not engraved. Struck into the original: the date "16 December 1938" with the signature beneath it. Blurred, flat-looking, or evidently later-added lettering argues against an original.
3. Material and construction. The cross is made of non-ferrous metal — it is not magnetic. The round central medallion (around 15 mm) is applied separately, and five rays sit between each pair of cross arms. One-piece casts lack this depth.
4. Enamel and ribbon. The obverse carries genuine blue and white enamel, which under a loupe has a glass-like sheen and may show fine age cracks. The original ribbon is blue-white and around 10 mm wide.

If in doubt, we check the piece from your photos — that costs nothing and commits you to nothing.

Brief Historical Background

The Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter was instituted in December 1938 and awarded in three grades: Bronze for four or five children, Silver for six or seven, Gold from eight children upward. It was part of the population policy of the Nazi state and was issued in the millions by the end of the war.

For today's valuation, this means: the Mutterkreuz is a historical mass object found in a great many German family estates (Nachlässe). Collectors use it to document a chapter of social history — most sought after are complete ensembles with case, issue packet and document, as well as the rare miniatures and maker variants.

The Mutterkreuz often turns up when clearing a household, alongside other pieces: a grandfather's Eisernes Kreuz, photographs, documents, sometimes a helmet from the attic. Anyone who has the whole box valued rather than piece by piece finds out first where the real value of the find lies — it is rarely where you'd expect.

A note on the legal position: the purchase and sale of original pieces from this period is legal in Germany. What is regulated is the public display of the symbols of unconstitutional organisations (§ 86a StGB). This is why we treat photographs containing such symbolism discreetly and document pieces exclusively in a private setting.

Sell Without Risk

We are a Spanish collectors' house buying throughout Germany. We buy for our own collection — with no dealer mark-up. In concrete terms, this means: we don't have to factor in a resale margin, and we can pay you a collector's price.

Here's how it works:

1. Send photos via WhatsApp to +34 665 164 779 — front, back, ribbon, plus case or document if you have them. Two minutes, no obligation.
2. Free valuation within 24 hours. We tell you whether the piece is original and what we'll pay for it.
3. Payment in cash, at the agreed price. For larger collections and Nachlässe, we come and view them in person — anywhere in Germany.

You don't need to send anything in before the price is set, and you don't have to sell if you don't like the offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Allowed to Sell a Mutterkreuz?

Yes. The private sale of original historical decorations is permitted in Germany. Only the public display of the symbolism is restricted (§ 86a StGB) — when selling discreetly to a collectors' house, this makes no difference to you.

What Are Old Orders Worth?

It depends on the decoration, grade, condition and accessories. Mass-issued decorations such as the Mutterkreuz mostly sit between 15 and 60 euros, while rare orders reach several hundred or thousand euros. You'll find an overview in our value database — or simply send us photos directly.

Is the Gold Mutterkreuz Worth More Than the Bronze One?

As a rule, yes, but the gap is smaller than many expect: Gold was also awarded in large numbers. Condition, case and document matter more than the grade.

Does the Document Increase the Value?

Considerably. A named award document turns an anonymous mass-produced piece into a documented individual item. We always assess Nachlässe with document, issue packet or a photograph of the recipient as an ensemble — don't separate the pieces before selling.

How Quickly Do I Get My Money?

Immediately once we've agreed: cash in hand for a personal handover, or by bank transfer immediately after inspection for items sent by post.

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More guide values: Iron Cross · Knight's Cross · German Cross in Gold · War Merit Cross · Wound Badge · Second World War decorations · East German decorations