Wild Card

Hi Stogieman, This is the best I can do; surely there is something better out there. Best wishes, Wild Card

Again with the minis!

Prussian silver jubilee badge with the lifesaving ribbon.

W?rttemberg 1892 - 1918 silver merit medal mounted on the lifesaving ribbon

Gentlemen, Here is a Hannoverian first type (1845 - 47) lifesaving medal awarded to Lt., later General Major, Julius von Mertens; which although already posted on another thread, I think, could be included here. Following this medal are two rather out of the ordinary items. The first is a W?rttemberg 1892 - 1918 silver merit medal mounted on the lifesaving ribbon. The second is a Prussian silver jubilee badge with the lifesaving ribbon. Best wishes, Wild Card

Andreas, Could this be an early version of what became the Lufthansa logo?

Gentlemen, I have to ask the following question and apologize I missed the answer somewhere in the other thread. Can anyone explain why the inscription on the banner, ?Avgust 1939? is in English; as is (more or less) the ?HALHINGOL? on the bottom? Any insight to this would be appreciated. Thank you, Wild Card

Gentlemen, If I may, I would like to add a few more points regarding this medal. Like many others of this type it was also awarded to non combatants, but on a different ribbon. Then there were two rather unique variations. First, this medal was also awarded to ?reserve? troops - again, the same medal but on, yet again, a third ribbon. Then there is the exceptionally rare iron variation made of blackened iron which was on the combatants ribbon. As I understand it, these were awarded to medical peronnel, clergy and civil servants. A similar format was followed with the Alsen crosses, one of which is pictured in post #39. Best wishes, Wild Card

Reverse.

Reduction group, obverse.

Hi Chris B., Thank you for an excellent presentation on a medal too often taken for granted. I do have a question. I seem to recall reading somewhere that there were several variations of this medal which were considered to be legitimate. Has your research uncovered anything in this regard? As to the ?un-Prussian? yellow colored ribbon, besides the sash and neck ribbon for the RAO grand cross (yellow with white stripes), the sash for the SAO could be considered to be yellow. Another interesting thing about the color of the ribbon is how the yellow comes out so very dark in the old black and white photos as seen above. In closing, I would like to present an example which, at 29 mm, is classified by Nimmergut as a reduction piece. Thank you again Chris B., Wild Card

Are the little guys invited to this party?

Hi Andreas, Obvious, but still worth mention - this pin system also aided in the proper alignment of the center medallions. Also, are you aware of this ?pin system? having been used on stars; or was that negated by the screw off back plates? Wild Card

Gentlemen, Although too late to help the hapless bidder; I would like to follow up on my posts #21/2 with regard to the ?5? in the serial number. Because my examples are about a thousand units from the subject piece, I was concerned that there might have been a change somewhere between them. Below is a picture of #975 which is much closer. As you can see, this piece also shows a ?5? with the upward bowed upper arm. Maybe someone could show an example with a ?5? in a serial number below 597? I apologize for not posting this one with the others, but she lives quite a way from home and just arrived this morning. Best wishes, Wild Card

Amen! But medals (?How much did that Bavarian cross cost??) is a lot easier than my former life (?How much were those new propellers??) - boat racing. Hey Solomon, much happiness and a great life to you both. Wild Card

Hi Christian, This is fascinating. Think about it. With all of Hindenburg crosses we see, I for one, have never given any thought as to the documentation connected with them. A true learning experience. Thank you, Wild Card

Back.

Front.

Gentlemen, Not in the drawer; but from the bank - the third (refer to posts #5 and #11) of the Saxon War Crosses. The Saxe-Weimar 1915 -1918 Wilhelm Ernst War Cross. Best wishes, Wild Card

Red Eagle, Your excellent presentation of what has to be a star that is as Prussian as you can get shows many of us, who would not have the opportunity otherwise, to see how complex the construction of these pieces can be. Daniel Cole, I have long been partial to these (post #202) crosses because I think that they are so under appreciated. This is the first screwback example I?ve ever seen. Super! Stijn David, Those lower grade princely crosses are too darned rare! Thank you all, Wild Card

Examples.

Good point and well said. I just do not feel comfortable with this piece; but for the longest time, I could not say exactly why. Therefore, I hesitated to say anything; but it still bothered me. Most obvious to me is the already mentioned lack of detail to the Kremlin Tower; but I am willing to concede that it may be due to wear. The second thing, not yet mentioned is that the first two ?C?s? in the center of the reverse appear to be rotated a few degrees counter clockwise, or to the left. Most of all though is the ?5? (I assume that it is a ?5?) in the serial number. Please notice that the top of the ?5? on the example under discussion is straight, maybe even curving downward. Below are the serial numbers of two examples (unfortunately about one thousand units higher) which show the tops of the ?5?s? to be clearly bowed upward. I am admittedly anything but an expert on Soviet pieces; but having access to these two examples, I felt that I should show them for comparison. Best wishes, Wild Card

Solomon -