Stogieman

Hi Rod, stick to established, trusted dealers with many years of experience and you should do OK

Just blows me away with the effort people will put into stealing a few Euros..... If it's not 7+ figures, it's not worth the effort IMO... ;>)

Once upon a time..... I gathered some experience with Saxony & cases for their awards....

So.... bottom line is Yes, you can find bronze FAM for war service in a nice case with swords impressed on the lid and it's probably real. I have not seen a fake of this type of case yet... But remember that if you were truly loaded.... you could buy a cased FAM in bronze or silver in peacetime as well....

Now what I initially thought was that "oh yeah, OK... they have swords because the order inside has swords".... Nope, my neophyte knowledge was confounded by the St. Henry Medal & RK.... this award doesn't come with swords.... but there they were on the lid!!

Now, during WW1, we see that war-time awards have these beautiful big swords impressed on the lid.

Saxon cases make an interesting study. Here's two cases for the Albert Order in peacetime:

Sorry, here's a bronze issue packet:

It is my belief that these cases were all private purchase items. The FAM was issued in a paper packet like this:

inside we find the bronze FAM on the "war ribbon"

Miguel, all that means is "with swords on the case for war service"

Reverse is "mirror image", no numbers:

Lots of crawling and snooping about and I can only find this one badge, purported to be for the first 5-Year Economic Plan, 1944-1949. I have not seen a single badge with a different year, or of a different style/type. Are there others out there?

Reverse. Screw-back badge, but no numbers a la Soviet style.

Shock Worker. I have always wondered what one had to do to be named "Shock Worker"?? Here's a nice example of a very early Bulgarian Udarnik Badge. Two-Part construction and hot enamels.

This piece was owned by someone in NY State who listed it on eBay Germany. I did watch the sale but opted not to bid. My thoughts were it was probably pre-1900 and assumed it would fetch a higher price than I was willing to go. In the end, it closed under 300- Euro which I think speaks volumes for what the German buyers thought of it. If it was real, someone walked away with quite a prize for a very small price.

The Soviet Jubilee medal to foreigners is pretty rare in ita' own right. I have seen dealers asking MORE than the current bid on the whole group for the one medal....

I agree with Ulsterman that this is one of the best Napoleonic groups I have seen in years. The custom case with all that history in the lid is what really makes it for me. This is the closest I ever came to a piece of this magnitude.... but no name, no history and no ribbons...

Great thread folks, I am learning a lot about these very rare pieces!! Thanks!

Still a heck of a little bar. I'm glad our friends in Europe can still find decent items. I cannot remember the last real, exceptionally interesting ribbon bar I could find for sale in the US

Same seller is back with three more lots. He's milking the stash for lots of Euros!

Thanks Anatoly. I missed the initials at the bottom!!

Hallo Heiko, I understand the law that was passed.... but I see just as many people who guarantee authenticity..... Take a close look nat the "enamel" on that observer badge..... Oh yeah, that's real all right....

Heck of a picture.... anybody chasing it?

Saschaw, you've been holding out on us.... you haven't posted that picture before???