Carol I

There are indeed many differences between the two eagles. Thanks. On the other hand, I could not find a match with any of the eagles on the page mentioned.

On 22 December 1944, King Mihai of Romania sanctioned the law no. 656 and the decree no. 2510 that authorised the issue of a gold medal commemorating the liberation of Northern Transylvania in the autumn of 1944. The medal was also issued as a political declaration since at that date Transylvania was still under soviet military occupation (the return of the Romanian administration was conditioned by the installation of a communist government, which took place in March 1945 when the Romanian politicians realised that the western allies completely abandoned Romania into the hands of the soviets). The medal followed the general specifications of the traditional 20 lei gold coin of Romania, but with a small difference in weight. It thus conformed to an internationally recognised standard of coins. However, lacking a face value allowed the medal to be collected as a work of art, thus being exempted from the interdiction to hoard gold as circulating coins. The possession of these medals was however strictly forbidden during the communist regime. On the obverse of the medal there are the effigies of Prince Michael the Brave, King Ferdinand and King Mihai surrounded by the text ARDEALUL NOSTRU ("OUR TRANSYLVANIA") and the key dates 1601, 1918 and 1944. On the reverse there is the crowned head of the Romanian eagle surrounded by the crests of the 11 counties in Northern Transylvania. The medal was minted in 1 million pieces. It is estimated that about 150000 pieces are still in the vaults of the Romanian National Bank. Image source: Romanian Coins

Do you mean that this is not an original Wagner piece or not an original Red Eagle badge?

Thanks Erik for the reply. I liked the impression made by the enamel work on this piece.

Thanks Christophe for the images of the 4th class cross.

Thanks Jacky for the quote. I must have missed that on Wikipedia.

As well as for the Order of the Crown.

Is the information on Wikipedia regarding the different classes of this order accurate? What is the difference between the 3rd class and the 4th class badges since both of them are said to have been worn on a ribbon on the left side of the chest?

Thanks Dave for the quick reply. Both the cross and the medal had the same ribbon. In fact the cross was (and still is) the war version of the medal, not a different cross.

Thanks for the updates. Can you please give also a short description of the appearance of the badges of all classes? Knight second class was in silver and worn on a chest-ribbon. Knight first class was in gold and worn on a chest-ribbon. ...

OK, thanks.

Nice to know that German orders could change ribbons. Were there many orders that could do this or was it only the Order of the Red Eagle?

Thanks for the update. Nice to know about this detail.

Thanks Jacky for the reply. The asking price was almost 800 euros, but I suspect it was overpriced.

Thanks VtwinVince for the reply. Is it normal to have the badge of the Red Eagle with this ribbon? I thought the normal ribbon was white with two red stripes. Was this black ribbon with white stripes some sort of a war ribbon or a bravery ribbon?

Thanks for the replies. I forgot to mention that the hinge of the case was broken, so its condition was far from perfect. Maybe this is why the price for this was not as outrageous as for the Order of the Zahringer Lion I also posted. On the other hand, I was surprised by the folding of the ribbon. I was expecting the full ribbon to go through the suspension ring, not only a narrower bit sewn to the broader ribbon. Was it normal to have the order worn in this way?

Thank you all for the replies. As far as I remember the badge was yellow (gold or at least golden, not oxidized silver), so if I understood right it is that for a knight first class. And the price was somewhere around 1200 USD, way above what you seem to consider an honest price. Thanks once again for this introductory lesson in old German orders.

Detail (reverse)

Detail (obverse)

Reverse

I have seen this grand officer's star in a dealer's shop and I would be interested in finding out more information about it. Is it authentic? Approximately how much is it worth? Thanks. Obverse

Detail (case)

Case

Marking on the bottom arm of the cross

Detail