Alpha Draconis

On 07/01/2021 at 22:53, Guero said:

Hi I would like to be put in touch with the holder of the medal 

Hello Guero

I have contacted you via gmic messages

Best regards

Hello Gordon

Thank you for your post about captain Keogh, he had an impressive military career.

He had a silver, third grade Castelfidardo medal... I saw somewhere a photo of an Indian cheef The Sitting Bull wearing a silver Castelfidardo medal around his neck dangling around with his peace pipe, suggesting that there were surely been more of the Irish veterans of the Papal army in the battles against Indians, as Peter has suggested...

I was wondering if any of the Irish fighters got a higher grade Casterlfidardo medal? I saw a photo of the Irish batallion commander Major Mylas O'Reilly, but his medal also appears to be a silver one...

Best regards

Joseph

On 03/10/2020 at 11:01, Elmar Lang said:

Hello,

to find any detail about the Castelfidardo medal and its variations, I think the best should be reading the pages about this medal, in A. Brambilla's book (2nd edition) on the decorations and medals of Italy and the former Italian States.

It's the most documented and updated source on this subject.

Best wishes,

E.L.

Hello Elmar

Thank you for the info on the Brambilla's book, I have heard of it but never had one.. if any of the coleagues have this book, please help with the info regarding this medal!

Best regards

A.D.

Hello Gordon

Yes I have had several of silver ones in my posession, and I have heard of copies, but never had one in my hands...

As for grades of this medal, there are four grades, some says even more!

First grade is gold with enamels, second grade is gold(possible gilded gold), third grade is silver, fourth grade is bronze.

But there are also silvered bronze, and even a nickel one... where those two features I haven't find out...

If I made some mistake in grading, please do correct me!

As for the first grade medal I have seen two of them in the Castelfidardo museum in Italy, and one more in private collection. One of them have two clasps C Fidardo and Ancona, and other two are claspless..

But I haven't find out any of those firstgraders has ever been sold on any auction, so its value is still a ????

I could ask a Vatican museum a few milion bucks for it?? 

I have heard that they have an extra money they don't need at the moment...

Thank you Gordon for your help, If you could you can post a photo of the silver copy, so people could be aware of it!

Best regards

Joseph

Hello Gordon

Indeed, this is a rare medal I myself don't have many information about, thus I believe there were more battles in this Austro-Franco-Papal 1860 war...

The clasps I know about are Castlefidardo, C Fidardo, Ancona, Perugia, St Angelo and Spoleto, but on these golden ones I have seen only C Fidardo and Ancona. I have seen only 4 of those, including mine, that's why my inquiry was how many of those were made considering they were bestowed to superior commanders only... how many of the superior commanders were there in 10000 soldiers army?

Best regards

Joseph

Hm....

No one knows nothing about the topic?

I know it is a rare item, but surely some of the phalermasters knows something about the first grade Castelfidardo medal...

To enrich this topic a bit here are the rest of this lovely medal... enjoy gents!

Hello Gents

Here we have a Castelfidardo medal Ancona clasp, made in 24 karat gold. I believe it to be a quite rare item, but I need your help to find out how many of these medals were made? I know they were bestowed to supreme commanders, but does anyone knows how many of those still survived...

I was also wandering why there is only one clasp on the ribbon considering there were five different clasps of different battles like Castelfidardo or Perugia clasp? This medal belonged to a supreme commander, shouldn't he be involved in more than one battle?

Last question; what would be the market value of a quite rare beastie like this one?

Acid test showed a total purity of 24 karat gold, usually decorations were made of lower karat gold to be more sturdy...

Any info would be apreciated!

Best regards

Joseph

Hello gents

This badge, similar to St Andrew star is probably the badge of officers of the Guard Cavalry, IMHO ?

And Eric is right about GK3 it is made by Dmitri Kuchkina, it should have a stamp of DK and a stamp of 84 for silver! As I have said, a great find?

Great find!!!

Congratulations!!

Hello Schlange

This is Serbian Chetnik Ravna Gora badge, made in aluminum, with a proper clip pin, made after ww2 by the exile government, original period item with lowest number I have ever seen, quite good condition!

Congrats!

Joseph

Hallo Duffy Duck

Very nice medal indeed! As for the holes I dont think they were ment for diamonds, they are randomly placed with no order. The planned holes would be simetrical or circular, IMHO.

Regards

Joseph

The numbers are impressed, and yes, there is a correct font. But fakers today make very good correct font!!!

The older versions 19ct. medals had different correct font than the 20ct. medals, so there is some variations of correct font depending of the age...

Regarding the 4 step you mentioned, the first and second degree crosses in gold or gold metal are marked 1 step and 2 step, the other two grades in silver or white metal are marked 3 step and 4 step

Best regards

???

In that case all you need is to find a White eagle mini with numbers 1883, and you'll have a matching minies!?

Joke aside, those mistakes are quite rare, thus I like these medals even better✌

Hello Jeff

Do you meen the numbers on the reverse? Many of these were not numbered, but still original pieces...

Best regards

Joseph

Most probably, the jeweler had to made booth st Sava and White eagle miniature, and made a mistake by writing a White eagle year instead of st Sava.... but we'll never know for sure?‍♂️

Best regards

What is curious, I have seen only numbers from 2000 and 3000 range, none under 2000.

Has any of you gents pieces under No. 2000?

Regards

Joseph

Hello Lars

Paul is correct as always, it means soldier No. 2230 of the 1st regiment de Ligne. Only 1st regiment has the inscription, as I have seen so far...

Best regards

Joseph

Hello!!

BK should be Braca Knaus, the same company as GK only later...

Best regards

Thank you Misiu! Is it a defence force badge or badge of honor?

Regards

Joseph

Hello Gents

Please help me with the identification of this badge. I have some infos but need a clarification.

I was told that this is the badge of Finland defence forces, and it's some kind of medal of honor. Please tell me in what period was it bestowed and the rarity of the badge. Any info is appriciated!! The badge is Finish made and numbered.

Best regards

Joseph

Keen eye as always Paul

Hello Obi

This is probably Dimitri Kuckhina st George cross, price roughly 400-600$

Best regards

Joseph

Don't mention it!!

Hello Jan

The two Croatian badges are fakes, most probably the Yugoslavian as well. Bulgarian could be good, Prussian Ce Juncker has the markings and exaust holes, ciukd be good but I'm no expert in Prussia. Spanish is good...

Best regards

Joseph

It's a good one! Dating is difficult because archives were destroyed in ww2, but as Stuka f said most prabable from 1914-1920

Best regards

Joseph