When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Cold War U.S. Army Presentation Plate – Bavaria 1969–1974
This is a rare 11.5” cast pewter presentation plate, engraved to Lt. Col. Michael K. Stein, U.S. Army, commemorating his service at the U.S. Army Russian Institute (USARI), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, 1969–1974.
* Material: Pewter, with scalloped edge and detailed Bavarian state coat of arms.
* Front: Raised crest of Bayern (Bavaria) with crown and shield.
* Reverse: Inscribed “LTC Michael K. Stein – U.S. Army Russian Institute – 1969–1974.”
* Maker: Original foil label, Metten – Maîtres Potiers d’Étain, Huy (renowned Belgian pewter workshop).
* Size: Measures approx. 11.5” diameter.
⸻
📖 Historical Significance & Provenance
The U.S. Army Russian Institute (USARI) in Garmisch, Bavaria was the Army’s premier Cold War training center for officers specializing in Russian language, politics, and Soviet affairs. It trained Foreign Area Officers, intelligence specialists, and diplomats who played critical roles during East-West tensions of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Lt. Col. Michael Kay Stein (West Point Class of 1957) served in military intelligence focusing on Russian studies. He spent much of his Army career in Europe and was stationed at USARI during this pivotal era. Stein retired in 1977 and later lived in Boulder/Denver, Colorado, where this plate surfaced in a local estate. He passed away in 2016.
This plate is a documented, named artifact directly tied to Cold War military intelligence history, Bavaria, and a decorated officer’s career. It represents the type of presentation piece given to senior officers at the end of a tour of duty.
⸻
✅ Condition
Good vintage condition with light age wear, engraving clear, crest well defined, and original maker label intact.
