coastie

That's a poser isn't it? Maybe you're supposed to challenge the enemy to produce his coin and if he doesn't you're released?

check this link out it's one of many but consistant with the "rules" and history of challenge coins. challenge coins here are mine:

I attempted to watch some cricket on the Telly in Bombay, between musicals.

Inside the lodge (have a couple of more shots buried somewhere)

In 1989 I was in New Dehli and in walking around the city I stubled across this Masonic Lodge.

The faker was being cheap and might have used a Lenin Centenary pinback for the ribbon holder.

I would say the 1914 EK2 They would probably give you one for just showing up to muster.

Well my Dad told me of a guy who got the Bronze Star for coming up with ways to cook K rations.

Most excellent Thank you's for the name. Now he is not just a picture but a person.

It's starting to go beyond a reasonable priced Repro. A while ago I bought a nice group from Hannover with an S&L PLM that had an ek2 (KO), Prussian war service 1916, Kyffhauser medal group, Silver and black wound badge and other stuff for less than $300. They are out there still for good prices. I agree we all can't own an original PLM nor should we be excluded or ostracized for buying a fine quality repro, there are not that many real ones out there. Let the big shots with the money buy those. But it burns my butt that someone would sell these as originals.

On this side of the pond it's called a "baked enamel" finish. That's why I have chosen this core to show. It has a nice glossy luster of baked enamel. You will notice that there are some small chips in the enamel which is typical of a hard enamel.

The first alarm bell is that this is made by HLP and they didn't have a Government contract during the war. This maybe one of the"Back Door" MoH's sold during the 80's. Now I don't know if replacement medals are given to the recipient engraved or not. Just looked on line and the award to Nicholas Minue was posthumous...hmmm!

Another shot

Sorry for the late response how about this picture

the 1914 side

Here is an iron cross core with I believe stove enamel finish

I have just a core that I will take pictures of tonight, don't have access to it at the moment.

Very facinating! It's the little things that add up to the bigger picture, Thanks

Excellant examples. I don't think I've seen many American ones that are that good.

I've heard of it I'll have to look at my Navy history books. But I remember reading that it caused quite a stir in Parliment. It had an impact not unlike the Doolittle raid.

I knew the Orders were to be returned, did'nt know about the others. Some British Orders are returned, Order of the Garter and Bath I think.

I've only heard of Orders being returned to the state. Medals and most decorations are personal awards and belong to the individual for deeds done. Orders are a bit different. I think because some of them are so intricate and are sometimes encrusted with Jewels that a state is afraid of them ending up in pawn shops and melted down.

Correct. These are very nice, well made and with a very vibrant colored silk ribbon. Don't really have an answer to the number of how many of these slot brooch DFC were awarded during Vietnam. But it is possible that maybe there are a bunches still sitting somewhere in the QM Deport like all the Slot brooched Bronze stars that have turned up in the last couple of years.

The easiest/basic way of telling the difference is the style of brooch. If it is a wrapped brooch it's possibly pre-war/wwII vintage. If it is a slot brooch it's WWII and possibly up to Viet Nam depending on the number of them the QM Depot had. A slot brooch DFC was made during WWII so you have a good War time example. I can't give you numbers or anything about serial numbers but there are others who can.

There are a number of awards for civilians now then there was during the time of Lindburg and the others. The Presidential Medal of Freedom for example and other Government agency awards. Going back to armed conflicts what is lacking I think is a true MOH equivalent civil award like the British George Cross. I could see something along the line of a MOH to a civilian who single handlely subdues a terrorist on a flight or destroy/remove a bomb before it kills many people. But for other achievements let's say a civilian manages to privately finance and flies a rocket to the moon that would certainly be today's equal to Lindbergh's trip across the Atlantic. In which case he would probably get a Congressional Gold Medal. So most bases are covered.