"Unsure of history of this interesting piece so selling it from $1 reserve to highest bidder.
"Appears to be Nazi bullion but I have not other information about it.
"Original patina, hasn't been polished since I've owned it."
The entry bid for the auction, listed under "other" in the coin section of Antiques and collectibles, was $1 but jumped to $176 within two days.
Offensive memorabilia and propaganda are featured on Trade Me's "banned items", which include sperm, eggs, excrement and bones.
The website states, "You may not list items that promote or glorify racial, sexual, religious or other intolerance, hatred or violence, or that promote organisations with such views.
"Nazi and Ku Klux Klan memorabilia and propaganda is usually prohibited although we generally allow the sale of historical coins and postage stamps from Germany and educational books about World War II or Nazi Germany. You may not use wording that could be considered derogatory or offensive in this context."
Trade Me spokesman Logan Mudge said the auction was removed from the site around 4pm today (Mon).
Mudge explained, "We made the moral call to ban the sale of Nazi memorabilia on Trade Me because it was something our community felt strongly about.
"While we don't want to forget the past, we also don't want items glorifying tragic past events onsite.
"There are some exceptions around things like particular stamps, coins and books but this auction didn't appear to fit into them."
The website introduced strict guidelines and regulations after a Nelson man tried to sell his amputated leg in 2006.
The listing was placed on 81 Kiwis watchlist before removal.
