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This is really nicely worn KO frame. I am just not sure with the condition of the core. Maybe it´s just the angle, but it looks like two different layers of paint are on it.

As I said in last sentence - this is jumping on the bandwagon not before the band - but seven years after it was clear there would be no party. And I agree with your friend. Modern German awards really do look cheap, but it is problem of many modern awards. They are no more jewels made by jewelers or state mints. More and more they look like carnival stuff made on machines that can be afforded even by small advertising agency.

In my opinion this is nice proof that shadow side of this hobby is hardly working on marketing strategies as well. My hat down. This piece will nicely display together with 1941 EK "For robbery and murder". These two "EK eras" I consider very unique, because crosses issued with this dates, were in fact issued only in the dreams of their producers. Of course, this cross is backed up with fancy looking story about being prototype piece from 2008 when there was public effort in Germany to reinstitute Iron Cross as Bundeswehr award for bravery, so that - of course, no wonder - some prototypes were prepared already. Thus happened that this crap is disquised as very rare curiosity - and a must for every EK collector. This story has just three, but crucial mistakes: 1. This effort (public petition) started (and ended) in 2007, not 2008. From Wikipedia: In 2007, a petition to the German parliament to revive the Iron Cross decoration was initiated, quickly receiving over 5,000 signatures. The parliament decided on 13 December 2007 to leave it to the Ministry of Defence to decide on the matter. Just FYI: In 2008, Ministry of Defence instituted Honour cross of Bundeswehr for Bravery, thus automatically rejecting the revival of Iron Cross. 2. Doesn´t matter who is expected to be producer, but I see no reason for him to choose for his "Prototype" cross a well known fake frame and fake hardware, already making its rounds on ebay with 1870 date (mainly). Except one reason: he is the same bloody faker. 3. I would expect really low numbers of these crosses to be made as prototypes. In fact, they flooded the ebay just few weeks ago. One seller on American ebay offers them for 27 dollars per piece, with more than 10 pieces in stock. Probably this guy found some "Bundeswehr prototype hoard", lol. Btw - why this market flood didn´t happen already sometimes in 2008 - 2009? Who would keep these pieces for 6 - 7 years and started offering them just few weeks ago?

Thank you very much, Demir! I just googled that Turkish Army has the same word (Onbaşi) for Corporal and Seaman Apprentice, aka German Obermatrose. Though Federal Germany already call this rank Gefreiter. Any chance to catch some date from the doc? Miro

Thank you for the useful links, Demir. They confirm what I was able do decipher from the document with the help of my friend. Mainly the fact that the name of awarded person is in second line of text in golden wreath (first photo) - and it indeed is Landgraf. First line is probably the rank (Obermatrose), which is written as "awbrachi" or "awbnachi". Can you please confirm this? Unfortunately, my friend wasn´t able to find awarding date in the text (it´s very hard for him to read such calligraphy, he said). For me it´s very interesting to know it, because the history of SMS Baden (as the biggest war ship and the last one to be built during Kaiserrreich) is quite well documented. I agree with the fact that this is not an awarding box. Right now one boxed TWM with asterisk mark is in offer on ebay and the case looks very different (and better). I am tending to believe, this is sales box, because very similar sales boxes are known to be used. I am posting the photo comparison with one sales box from S&L. It is not so deeply taned, as it is 40 years younger piece. Regards, Miro

Here are some diplomas I used as reference. First has only obverse side shown: http://www.turkish-militaria.com/TR/ThemenTR/Urkunden/image004.htm Second link is more interesting, as there is a photo of the reverse side as well: http://www.europeana1914-1918.eu/en/contributions/6635#prettyPhoto

It´s just a folded strip of vintage newspaper, written in german fraktur. About some exhibition in Kunsthalle, from 17. to 24. September. Entrance is for 20 Pfennigs, students have it for 15... Probably it was just put there by owner to preserve the award from rattling in the case. This is one of the reason why I think it is not an award case, but either storage box, or universal sales case. I know that for example S&L used very similar ones. I still have one of them, just different size.

Thank you for the answer, Demir. What do you think about the diploma and the case?

Hello I would appreciate any comments on this one. Thanks in advance Obverse with * mark: And the diploma with the case, or probably just storage box:

Thank you for your opinion, Andreas. I think I already explained why ribbons look mint. Plus, it´s quite common to see correctly stored medal bars where ribbons stayed quite mint, while metal parts kept developing heavy patina (as seen on photo below). Even silver frame on EK2 stored in blue packet will patinate, while ribbon stays mint like made yesterday (second photo). If somebody thought (incorrectly) it would be better to polish medals on this bar before sale, then that is what we see. Maybe he even put the whole bar to washing machine first, because the red dye from stripes on Lippische Rose ribbon can be seen slightly dissolved to white parts. Precisely as when you throw red socks to the washing machine full of white T shirts. If you don´t mind, in this moment I would really appreciate to move from ribbons and threads to awards, if it is possible. I think this piece still doesn´t deserve to be publicly burnt, only because awards on it are so rare, that most of us can discuss just pieces of fabric hanging on it. Thank you very much in advance. Miro

I am personally convinced that Anhalt is gilded bronze with old polish (or something) left on it. At the detail of reverse (which I didn´t post before) it is quite clearly seen. I think there is an agreement in this moment, that this medal bar is not absolutely untouched "Prunkstück". The question is - is this an original medal bar that was depleted by suspending the oakleaves from 2nd class Lippische Rose (and maybe by exchanging some more valuable award for Silbernes Verdienstkreuz) and then "upgraded" with old Godet label that doesn´t fit to medal bar from 1920s? Or is this an fantasy medal bar, either made from original pieces, or from copies? I think that there weren´t many personalities with quite rare awards for Arts and Science of two small German states being awarded with Jerusalem Cross. So the identification attempt of this bar would be very helpful in confirming its authenticity..

Small correction - there is one more medal sewn with grey thread and it´s Sachse Weimar Silbernes Verdienstkreuz. Is it possible that originally there was another medal on same ribbon, that was replaced? I think there is a visibly bigger gap on both sides of this award than between any others.

Very interesting thoughts, thank you very much, Claudio. Although I am more miniature oriented when it comes to Godet, I agree with the fact, that this is not typical Godet mount. I would just like to add, that these photos were brightened by me, because medals were too dark on original seller´s photos. That´s the reason why ribbons look too new. But if you check the detail, nearly all of them have worn spot precisely on the place where is a hook underneath. Another interesting feature which I noticed only when you pointed on the ribbons is that Lippische Rose for Arts and Science is not in fact 3rd class, but 2nd class with suspended oakleaves - which is quite exciting, because 2nd class was awarded only 43 times.. It is just small difference, but second class has inline loop (as this one), while third class has loop in 90° degree to the medal (as seen on reference medal bar below). As you can check, all medals are sewn with yellow (orange) thread, while Lippische rose is attached with grey thread, that is quite loose. So, at the end, this bar was surely messed up with.

Nce Deumer. I would say pin is resoldered.

Anhalt Merit award for Arts and Science and Sachsen Weimar Silver Merit cross.

Lippe Kriegs-Ehrenzeichen on ribbon for merit at enemy territory (459 awarded) with Lippe award for Arts and Science, 3rd class (143 awarded).

Some details of Jerusalem cross.

Before making quite big purchase, I would like you to check this medal bar. It´s quite unusual combination of awards, so I believe the wearer can be traced. Of course, if the bar original. I am mostly interested in originality of Jerusalem cross as the most valuable award. Thank you very much in advance.

Very interesting photos, thanks for sharing.

I agree. Friedrich Kühn was commanding officer of 14th Panzer Division from March 1941 to June 1942.

Quite match, I would say, just crown on yours appears different, but it can be only the reflection. Here are another two. But I am not sure if these appear without registration, or login. http://h2385226.stratoserver.net/wbb3/board3-epochenforum/board5-deutsche-orden-ehrenzeichen-auszeichnungen-bis-1918/59499-preisfrage-miniatur-goldenes-militär-verdienstkreuz/#post364169 One (Streptile´s) is on earlier (to 1917), another one (Woeschler´s) on later Godet button (1935-45). There are slight differences between them, which means Godet produced more versions of MVK (as well as of EK, for example). But all later pieces (mine and second one from SDA - as well as yours) - have donut loop, uneven round the clock.

Hello, Here is Godet MVK button. As your photo is too small, pease compare it by yourself.

No match. No Friedländer, no GOK, no Banana...

What I miss in that discussion is the fact, that there was nobody who would take one Fr. marked cross and one FR marked cross and compare them. If there is no frame match and no hardware match, what the heaven they are talking about when guessing it was one maker? And if there is a match... why they wasted their time?

That´s the real rare beauty!!! ...so rare that it risks to be offered as patriotic cross (which usually are enamelled, though smaller) for "user friendly" price. I know one bastard (I mean it positively, although it doesn´t look like, but he is my FB friend) who had such luck twice. With enamelled EK1 1914 and with Virgin cros 1870/71