Daffy Duck

Dear gents, Recently I came across this very interesting and nice badge in the old household. It actually looks like the badge of Imperial Infantry Warrant Officer School. There's few differences between this badge and those rare I have found on the net. Firstly , this badge is actually made of silver, which is a plus. I have some doubts about the crowns (two instead of one) and shield on the double headed eagle. There is no inscription to which particular school this badge belonged to (I, II...) If it is genui, it could be from the period of 1917, and revolutionary time. If not, I don't understand why someone, if he already spent so much time in forgery, didn't do this two small things in the proper manner? Any thoughts?

Just to add my humble addition to this topic....I haven't got the possibility to see that great book, but to my knowledge, there is a issue about this order. According to the pictures of two Serbian kings from late 1800s, both of them wore around neck simple Jerusalem crosses without laurels. I assume that was the single or the highest class at that time. In my collection there is a I class of the order (Lemaitre) from the very beginning of 1900s, but without another order badge... I assume it was added after 1925, and the newest recomposition of the Order classes... I also noticed that the fragment of the True Cross was placed in every order, regardless of the class... And those are two Serbian kings with this Order without laurels: King Milan Obrenović and his son, Alexander, respectively...

Once again many thanks for all contributors to the topic! It's marvelous in what time frame I got the answer!

I would kindly ask for any information about this specific piece! As I am not the proper collector of Bulgarian orders and decorations, but from time to time I acquire some pieces. This one is the latest acquisition, so I humbly ask for any information. I have found two possible solutions, but they are remarkably in contradiction. I was told that this could be so called ,,Republican edition", but in the same time, I have found other possibility that this could be an variation to pre 1915 version. Especially due to the old spelling on the rim. I would appreciate any help!

I finally got received this order. Here are much better pictures. Quite surprisingly, it's without any markings on the body, but on the ring only one makers mark could be found. There are no markings for precious metals, and the main body is definitely made of silver. Any clue who produced it? I can only read "CB" with the crown between the letters. I have seen a similar piece on Emedals, but unfortunately without any information about the producer.

Many thanks for your opinions and I have learnt something interesting and new!

I was recently offered to acquire this cross. It was stated that it's of Polish origin, but it wasn't verified by any evidence. I don't know why, but it looks like some of the White Russian movement decorations, I had privileged to observe in one domestic Museum... Anyone has any clue or know anything more about this specific cross?

Those are better pictures

I was offered to acquire this rare badge of Smolenski ulanski regiment (Смоленский 3-й уланский полк). I was told, and don't have any reason not to believe, as I trust that man who generally is not familiar at all with the topic, especially not with the fakes on the market. To cut the story short, this badge was found at the estate. I am stil waiting for better pictures, but may I hope that this could be a genuine one? The enamel looks great, but I have some questions about the bronze core. Any help would be great!

I recently acquired this group, which should have belonged to unknown Polish veteran from WW2, or someone who was connected to Polish forces in Northern Africa. I am still searching more info about specific Polonia Restituta order, but I know nothing about those two British badges. I would appreciate if someone can offer me any explanation or information about them.

I recently acquired new addition to my humble collection of 1918 Polonia Restituta orders. What surprised me is the size of this specific piece. It was found among the items of some (unfortunately unknown) polish veteran of WW2 from France. By the size, it's almost the same as III class (56mm from point to point), as the known III class from Poland mint, awarded in 1930s (58mm). Is there any chance to find more about this specific model (producer, period of use, etc)? As there are so many differences between two models (enamel, central medallion, thickness...) Is it possible to even find out the class of this order? And more photos This is well documented III class:

That's the original frame, which previous owner acquired.

Is there, by any chance possiblity to find out a bit more about this specific piece, e.g. time of production, region of manufacture, etc. I suppose it's a genuine one, and most probably IV class. Unfortunately, I know so little about Osmanic orders and medals, although I am from Serbia, where there are not so uncommon to find on the photos from late XIX century...

What about the version of this medal with white enameled five pointed star?

Those marks are definitely not Yugoslav...

My humble addition to this topic: Chobillon. Is it possible to narrow the time frame by this specific mark?

For the first time in my decade long collector time I have seen this rare bird. It's a extremely rare model of Order of Yugoslav Crown made by French producer Adrien Chobillon. I suspect it was produced after WWII, as it doesn't have inscription 3 X 1929 on the medallion on the reverse side. The other central medallion is unfortunately missing, but I have found a picture of another similar. This specific order have three marks, two French for silver and third of a producer (AXC). The badge itself is much smaller than the normal III class, 65x44.6mm, contrary to regulations. And the picture of makers mark

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to see any markings on the ring or anywhere else. The other problem is that someone butchered all three orders by removing central medallion on one side, in order to display them in a frame. The other two orders which I am quite familiar with, have the markings, both but this Order of Saint Alexander. I will post pictures of the reverse side of the order.

One more picture

Luckily I have acquired this three orders which was most probably awarded to the same person. While it was quite easy to determine producers of the Serbian Order of Saint Sava and Montenegrin Order of Danilo I, I was unable to find any information about this Bulgarian Order of Saint Alexander. By no means I am not able to identify producer and even the time of possible award of this particular commander degree of Bulgarian order. I kindly ask for help.

Unfortunately, I believe this is 1990s replica...

Just be careful next time when you see Spomenica for sale. About that mold, I have spotted one, a year or so ago, but after close inspection of the pictures, I've realised that that specific one was actually for gravestones, not for original orders... It should be two pieces construction, not one... I suspect that someone made a new mold with the original Spomenica, with the number, and that the reason why you can see proper reverse side...

Actually, the left one is fake. Normally I will get mad if I came across the fake one, but I possess five original, and I am happy to have this fake one. I intentionally posted pictures of this two,as this should be the same lot. Somebody must made a lot of effort to make a copy of this Spomenica. The front side is marvellously modelled as if it is in some kind of the frame you would not spot any difference. Even the reverse side is modelled in the same manner as the original. it's not so precise detailed,but it should be produced in 1945, so someone could take it for real. Main difference is in the weight. original silver one weights between 36 up to 38 gr, and this one is much lighter, 17.8 gr. I just don't understand why someone haven't used silver as it would be next to perfect copy... Just be careful...

And this is the picture of it. One is genuine, and another is fake.. And the reverse side

For the first time in my career I came across the fake of Yugoslav Partisan testimony 1941. It's actually a very good fake, with lots of details on the front, and a decent back side. It even has a four digits number and not so good two hallmarks... Actually, main difference is in the material of production, as this weights around 18gr...