Elmar Lang

It looks a piece of the award type, because I think there is the signature "SPERANZA" under the King's bust. The naming appears as correctly done, at least from what I can see in the provided pictures and this is presumably his citation. All data appear as corresponding. (from the book of Vito Zita "Il Coraggio degli Ascari", 2014, page 994). All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

As said in another thread, opened about this medal, it is not an officially instituted medal, but an old, fantasy piece, as explained in my reply given in the mentioned thread. All the best, Enzo

Hello, it is an unofficial medal, struck with the obverse of the Militärverdienstmedaille "Signum Laudis" and the reverse resembling that of a 1780 coin from the Holy Roman Empire. By the way, Emperor Franz Josef was born well later than 1780. best wishes, Enzo

Good luck to the happy buyer. From what I can see in the pictures, it is an unofficially struck piece, made for private purchase at an undefined date between 1914 and well after WW1, to which an "old style" suspension was added. Best wishes, E.L.

I congratulate for having been successful in finding a decoration that has a deep, historical significance. with time and patience, you could try finding one with its original ring, green lacquer finish and, rare but not impossible, its proper ribbon. All the best, Enzo

I don't have the experience of Dr. Ludwigstorff of course, but I've had the opportunity to see many pieces of the MMTO in all its classes, and from the origins to 1918 (and later...), besides the few pieces I humbly own of this Order, in my collection. Messrs. Resch were extremely skilled jewelers, working at the highest level and quality and I think that they wouldn't have put their maker's signature on a piece of which they would have been just retailers. This cross doesn't resemble the manufacture of any other maker of orders whose activity could have been known in the 1840-1860 period, from whom Resch could have ordered the making of a piece. I can conclude that not existing a proof that this cross wasn't made by Resch, reading their engraved signature to the ring's inside, suggests that the piece was actually made by the then well-known firm from Kohlmarkt, Vienna. Best wishes, E.L.

A very nice, generic case of Austrian typology. The correct case for the Kriegsmedaille 1873 is of dark brown leather, with "Kriegs-Medaille" embossed on the lid. It is possible that retailers could have sold the medal in anonymous cases too. Best wishes, Enzo

It is a nice combination ribbon from the immediate post-1849 years, to be mounted on a then also called as "Mode-Spange", where usually on the bar the highest order was presented as an enameled miniature, placed to the centre of the bar itself. This bar shows the Imperial Austrian Order of the Iron Crown; the French Order of the Legion of Honour (from the Restauration, presumably), the Metallenes Armeekreuz a.k.a. "Kanonenkreuz" and the "Militärdienstzeichen für Offiziere". this last one, introduced in 1849. Just to add a little pictorial addition to this discussion, I would like to post the image of an Austrian "Mode-Spange" with combined ribbon, from my own collection. The reverse is struck with maker's and gold marks for the year 1805. All the best, Enzo

Hello, the medal appearing in the picture is not an official piece, but a piece for private puchase; the ribbon looks old, but wrong, being the one for the Cross for Military Merit, also used for the Cross for Military Valour (in that case, with a horizontally pinned, bronze gladium). All the best, E.L.

It is the Commemorative medal for the presence of the Crown Prince Umberto in Littoria, to honour the soldiers leaving from the city and province of Littoria (now Latina), to the Ethiopian campaign. It was struck in gold, silver and bronze. All the best, Enzo

Hello, nice pieces indeed. The MMTO is a well-made, post WW2 copy. Not made by Rothe for sure, but nice looking anyway. The golden medal of Kaiser Karl is not for "Merit" but for "Valour". Is there any mark struck to the rim? All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Always glad to be at your disposal! All the best, Enzo

Hello again, Thank you all for the kind words. Re. the Franz Joseph Orden, honestly I would pass on it and spare those 680,- Euro for something else. The cross itself looks like a piece probably made by Mayer's Söhne, Vienna (although no maker's mark appears as having been struck to the round ring, passing through the crown's orb and the overall quality looks like being less accurate than what would be to expect even from a gilt-bronze piece made by Mayer). The long, grooved, tapering ribbon ring is typical of the awards made by Messrs. Johnson, Milan, Italy, from the early 50s of 20th Century onwards. Best wishes, Enzo

You're welcome Jan, I'm always glad if I can be of any help. Re the price, if we consider how the price of Austro-hungarian awards is increasing in these years, yes, I think it's a relatively fair starting price (keep in mind that the auction's fees have to be added too...). All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, from what I can see in the provided pictures, the cross is a pre-1918, private purchase piece. This is quite reassuring, I hope, since many pieces offered on the market are the rather well-made copies made by Messrs. Rothe & Neffe, Vienna, until the mid 70s of 20th Century. In the hope of being of some help, I would like to post some pictures of an original cross, made of gilt silver, struck with all the correct marks we would like to see on such pieces. As a curiosity, I would also like to post the images of a further cross for 50 years service for officers, of a quite uncommon to see variation. These two pieces are from my own collection. All the best, Enzo