The World War II German encryption devices are rare and sell for thousands at auction.
The Enigma machine, recently in the news after divers found one at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, is an encryption device that was developed and used in the early- to mid-20th century to protect commercial, diplomatic and military communication. It was employed extensively by Nazi Germany during World War II, in all branches of the German military.
They are rare machines and when they come to auction, they sell for thousands of dollars, as did the ones featured here that sold in 2020.
Enigma I electromechanical cipher machine, 1935, featuring an ebonite Steckerbrett (plugboard) on the front, which was exclusive to the German armed forces and exponentially increased the complexity of the code. This version of the Enigma is sometimes referred to as the Heeres (Army) Enigma, Wehrmacht Enigma, or Luftwaffe Enigma due to its military-specific application. This particular example boasts rare characteristics found only on early production machines: metal extra Stecker cable holders in the lid, rotors with all-metal construction, and original metal badges and tags. It sold at RR Auction for $338,630.