Wild Card

#4.

Gentlemen, Hopefully, these will be helpful for comparisons. Best wishes, Wild Card

Gentlemen, Since my interests are in the areas of Imperial German and Soviet, I came across this thread quite by accident; but since my wife has a few Imperial Russian pieces, I have had a little experience in this area which I would like to draw upon regarding this subject. Basically, Pete A has it right in post #5, except that, as I understand it, the change took place roughly during the decade of the 1850?s. Right on target with regard to the non-Christian awards. Following is a piece from my wife?s collection. Best wishes, Wild Card

Gentlemen, I regret that I never, until recently, had an appreciation for the Princely Hohenzollern decorations. I especially like the 3rd class and merit crosses (with combinations), as shown in posts #1 - 3. Unfortunately, the only thing that I can offer is this silver Carl Anton Medal. Cased... of course. Best wishes, Wild Card

Thanks Chuck, at least you?ve never pulled a ?Sukarno? - we may have coined a new term here. If I may elaborate on that one for a moment, there was something that I loved about that guy. On one of his visits to The Red Empire, so the story went at the time, his hosts set him up with some lovely ladies and secretly filmed the results. When an opportunity presented itself where his hosts needed a little leverage in the negotiations, they confronted him with the films. His reaction? He asked for a couple extra copies to share with the guys back home! Do you have any ideas about my friend in post #423. A clue - he had to have been hell on a Harley. Again, thanks and best wishes, Wild Card

Gentlemen, Okay, I think that I?ve got it ready. I have to open by telling you that there are only two ways to present this one - impossibly difficult, or relatively easy. So, after our spending about three weeks finding Kirov?s no longer existent memorial, let?s take the easy road. This picture was taken in Moscow on May 7, 1995. At the time of the outbreak of the GPW, the gentleman on the right (the one on the left wasn?t born yet) was one of the sports heroes of Russia. He would have been comparable to say Tony Stewart or Sam Hornish but with half the wheels. The question is - Who is he and what was his unique duty assignment?

Thank you, Order of Victory. Vindication at last! For those of you who might be interested in this Kirov memorial, I would like to direct your attention to the following web page, which tells the story and has some fine pictures as well: http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magaz...s/92_kirov.html I was not quite prepared to follow up with a new challenge (forgot about the price of winning); but am working on a little something that I know will be different; and some of fun as well. Please give me just a bit of time here. Best wishes, Wild Card

?Quit while you?re ahead? Found it (I think)... Pinkhos Sabsay

I am really surprised that the main memorial to Kirov would not have been in in Leningrad where he was truly the local hero. Second to Leningrad, let?s go with Baku in Azerbaijan?

1934? A memorial to Sergei Kirov. I would assume that it was in Leningrad - his kinda town.

Don?t look at me, not a clue. Anyway, I?m still recovering from that stupid Sukarno gaffe.

Hi Ulsterman, No, this one is an 1809-1909 type that would likely be related to Infantry Regiment No. 92; which I believe was founded in 1809. Where?s Joe? Come on, Joe! Let?s see that five piece bar w/bar, please? Regards, Wild Card

Right now, many of our fellow members are going ?Oh no, not good!? Yes, it?s different and the answer is on the reverse. Neatly engraved is the inventory number, as was done with all stars received by the Duke of Cambridge. This is his privately (British) made grand cross star to the Order of Henry the Lion. Enjoy! Wild Card

Great choice! I don?t believe it, I almost went in this direction a few years ago and I?ve often wondered why more collectors haven?t gone for them. Several years ago, a well known collector presented a fantastic display of WWI war merit crosses at the OMSA convention - I?ve never forgotten it. Speaking of OMSA (and Henry the Lion), twenty-seven years ago when I was right where you are now, in terms of collecting, I went to my first OMSA convention and saw a Henry the Lion commander?s badge! That was it. So, just for you, as a welcoming present, I just happen to have a friend visiting home for a few days...

Hi Matthijs, I would like to add my words of welcome to our ?slippery slope? and offer some words of advice with regard to your inquiry. One of the nice things about collecting Imperial German orders and decorations is that, when compared to similar areas of collecting, with over 3,0000 individual items, there is so much from which to choose. While there are the obvious choices as to what to concentrate on such as Iron Crosses or everything and anything from Bavaria, or Baden, or Waldeck..., there are so many other options such as arts and science decorations, Napoleonic campaign/era awards, or (one of my favorites) miniatures. Rick Research, as usual, put it best with his suggestion - ?...it boils down to what are you INTERESTED in?...and then acquire the references that support that interest.? With emphasis on the last part. Go with your instincts and don?t be surprised or disappointed if a short time down the road, you change to another area; it has happened to most of us; and I can guarantee that there is a lot out there that you haven?t seen yet. Again, welcome aboard and ask lots of questions; we all do, that?s why we?re here and that?s how we all learn. Best wishes, Wild Card

Hi Sal, I thought that you might like to see a similar arrangement, as worn by a proud Brunswicker; so I brought this little group home for the weekend for a picture. I know that we have seen some examples of Baden bars mounted in this style here on the forum; but I?m not sure as to how to find them. I think that these bars on bar make a unique and attractive arrangement. Best wishes, Wild Card

Hi Ed, Thank you so much for sharing these fantastic pictures! If you do have more, please do share them. One thing that struck me as odd is that the group in post #7 has the usual (HSU, Lenins, ORB?s) and some nice foreign decorations, there are no defense or capture medals. Do you have any ideas or information as to why? Again, thank you and keep ?em coming. Best wishes, Wild Card

Hi Kevin, For what it?s worth - I am not an expert on this order; but I have seen quite a number of them over the years. Maybe it?s the focus, don?t know; but I get a sort of queazy feeling looking at this. Hopefully some of our resident experts can put our minds at ease. Best wishes, Wild Card

Uh, Stogie, it?s okay if you don?t answer that one. We understand, really it?s okay, don?t worry. Maybe we should just move on.

Gentlemen, Yes, that is definitely Felix Dzerzhinski. Known as ?Iron Felix?, he can be considered to be the founder of the communist secret police. Such a medal would make sense as he was always one of the favorite communist icons. There are numerous badges and pins that commemorate his life and death. Beria? Never! Too twisted, even for that bunch. Bob Hoskins stole the show with his portrayal of Beria in a film called ?The Inner Circle?; a little known film which I highly recommend to anyone even if only vaguely interested in The Stalinist period. Best wishes, Wild Card

Hi Dan (Hauptman), Since your original post, I have resisted the following vignette regarding Paul?s book; but... I was fortunate to receive my copy just after publication. I immediately dove into it. A couple of hours later, my wife, who I should note has lived with my (mostly Imperial German) collecting for over twenty years. came in. I handed the book to her and said ?Take a look at this?. An hour or so later, she came back, handed the book to me and said ?This is how medal books are going to be written?. Very insightful, we can only hope she?s right. Ops! What I said! Of course, she?s always right. So there you are Dan, from a real authority, you?re going to love your new book. Best wishes, Wild Card

A very nice little group; I see no reason why it would not be of the period. This method of mounting these bars is not teribly uncommon. Anyone else?

Thanks for the compliment Dan. Yes, I was very fortunate to get one of these, especially mounted on a bar with the Ludwig Cross next to it, which makes for a nice comparison. Unfortunately some pretty good fakes of these started showing up a couple of years ago. At one time, I had a complete set to this award including the award document and its? container (tube). I remember that it was awarded on the day of foundation, 7 January 1916, to an industrialist with the unlikely name of Ludolph Chillingsworth. Ralph, that ?greenie? is undoubtedly the nicest one I?ve ever seen - superb! Does anyone have any idea as to why they went to green? Why not stay with black? And Kevin, really nice minis. I?ve often thought that the minis to this cross were unusually rare. Now I know why; Kevin?s got them all (nice ones too). I think that it might be worth mentioning that there is another cross that is a sort of regimental jubilee medal. It has the same obverse as these other crosses; but the reverse has the date 1868 over 1918. If I make it out correctly, it is connected with the Austrian Inf. reg. no. 62. Thank you all for what has developed into another great thread. Wild Card

Reverses.

And while we?re on the subject, I thought that I should show this 100th constitution jubilee silver cross which, as you can see has the same obverse as the Ludwig Cross; but a different reverse. Again, I hope that you don?t mind the fact that these pieces are a bit knocked about. Best wishes, Wild Card