Stogieman

Nice bar Stijn, the Honor Cross, no swords and a combattant EK2 are not that unusual. Logistical support staff, etc. often found themselves in combat situations without being considered an actual combat unit.

Interesting..... Thanks for pointing this out Bob...

Made in Texas....

Hi Micha, wedding Jubilee.... Schwarzburg?

I think the style of the folds on the first few Bavarian awards is interesting.... However, note how the precedence is wrong... the Ludwig Cross should precede even the St. Mike's as it's considered a war decoration.

Greetings Naxos, we had a "Real or Fake" Quiz on this very badge!

Bon Soir mon Ami, C'est fantastique!

Well, at least two other people thought so to push the price as high as it went. I had a trade show, so no time to bid myself. I look at this bar and the medals were all sewn in a very long time ago. Construction, materials, ribbon age and folding styles are consistent with pre-1870 bars I have owned, handled and sold. I have only handled one pre-1870 MEZ and the cross looked quite the same as the one on this bar. Look carefully at the photos... I am unaware of anyone casting a copy of the MEZ in silver. The detail to the lines and lettering on the cross sure look right in this photo. Then there's the patina issue. Notice the black everywhere but the highpoints of the cross..... I think there's a high probability that it was real.... then it becomes a gamble because the only way to know for sure would be to have it in-hand.

Yes, because a "wearer's copy" of a silver medal would have been made in silver..... Look at the MEZ1, not the MEZ2. How many cast copies have you seen with 150 years of silver patina on them... ?

Reverse.

MEZ1 for 1866. Less than 200 awards.... sold on eBay.de

Fascinating presentation... I have quite a few of the Soviet ones but have (so far....) resisted the Mongolian ones as the complexity/variety is daunting....

Well, that's a fairly early example of the FAIII version, must be right at the cusp, ca. 1905.... The "normal" case is smaller in both dimensions but continued to have the molded dais for the medal itself.

Excellent dissertation and examination Dave. Thanks! White Black EK2 was given to many non-medical, non-combattants.... so I wouldn't rule it out.

Some additional points. in and of themselves, the crown well, the pin, the hinge, the cross are not of concern... roll them all into this badge. Uh, not a chance. An engraved badge is a custom piece, so the cross worked over is not unusual. BUT, the quickest, clearest give-away is the Meybauer styled pin with the bow on the front. They don't match. Also, while close, the pin is not a precise Meybauer match to known/accepted originals. Now...... given this, it must be noted that Juncker actually DID use a pin like this on their U-Boot Badges and certain Pilot Badges made in the 1930's/40's...... However, we then must fall back on the hinge/crown well are NOT Juncker in the least and neither are the die characteristics of the badge itself.... The engraving.... No German did that! ALSO< !! > I recently saw a fake engraving job done on the back of an authentic badge.... talk about just plain dumb.....

Ding ding ding... all correct answers! Mike K. being the most accurate on points to consider. Here's the front:

Hi Mark, that's a sweet bar! Congrats!

Only other option would be Labor Service Medal.... but it would be an exceptionally unusual case for that piece.... (Sorry, I waited as long as I could..... remember... stogieman=Saxony) (I have a real brain burner when you guys & gals are ready !!!)

This is the case for the Saxon Life Saving Medal........

Now that's a pretty special photograph! Note the Prinzen Centennial medal as well!

Yep, it's to a Bavarian! ;>)

Is it real? Is it fake? why?

Gentlemen... you may consider this your one (1) warning to play nice together.

Beautiful group Ed. The OBI Gold, or gilt??