new world

Interesting banknotes, amazing how they survived turbulent times in Romania

According to Todor Petrov, the following firms minted this medal: 1) in Bulgaria - N. Sobev, S. Miloshev, Onik Odabashian (Regent and Republican issues) 2) foreign - P. Telge, B. Meyer, G. Sheid, Yugenen Brothers & Co

wow, stunning minis, extra rare - congrats on this find!!! I was thinking about the ribbon for this award - it looks like they were using Civil Merit order ribbon.

Base looks like plated metal (bronze or copper alloy). Number is there to make it look legitimate, seller said 'the number is there, it must be authentic'. Problem is that number should be on the pin, not on the base. This is actually very convincing fake, even enamel looks real...until you stick a pin into it. Be very careful!!!

when picture is worth thousands of words...

Fake star of Military Merit 2nd class. Quite good quality, but soft enamels give it away.

So, keeping in mind this letter, what period crown is this crown on the case? It looks like 2nd crown he's referring to...

Alex, These were fairly common medals, often given to privates/NCO/civilians/workers. I'd estimate there were tens of thousands of them awarded.

Nice discussion of Red Cross badges and medals, however there are still some badges we didn't cover. For example, this and similar badges are sometimes called Air Chemical Defense badge, however I am not sure that's accurate, as it has Red Cross elements to it. Any thoughts? Similar Badge without Air Defense shield. It says 'For Service' Another one without shield, seller calls it badge for pilot-medic... and one more without the shield

King Carol of Romania is wearing similar Maltese cross

You have a point, although I am not sure photos will give us all his awards, as there were some he never or rarely wore and they were just not captured by photographers. I also saw people making statements that he was awarded German Iron Cross (someone said it was Knights Cross grade). Not sure if this is accurate, I wasn't able to find any reference to KC IC.

His awards according to Wiki: Foreign honours Plaque at Grand Kremlin Palace showing King Michael as one of five foreign recipients of Order of Victory of the USSR. Belgium: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold Czech Republic: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Lion Czech Republic: Recipient of the Medal of Merit of the Ministry of Defence, 1st Class Finland: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose France France: Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour House of Orléans: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Lazarus Greek Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Redeemer Greek Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of Saints George and Constantine Italian Royal Family: Knight Grand Collar of the Supreme Royal Order of the Most Holy Annunciation Italian Royal Family: Knight Grand Cordon of the Royal Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1941) Italian Royal Family: Knight Grand Cordon the Royal Order of the Crown (1941) Poland: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Eagle Russia Russia: Recipient of the Jubilee Medal "60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" Soviet Union: Grand Officer of the Order of Victory Sweden: Recipient of the 50th Birthday Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf United Kingdom: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order United Kingdom: Recipient of the King George VI Coronation Medal United States: Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit His Romanian awards National dynastic honours House of Romania: Sovereign Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Carol I House of Romania: Sovereign Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown National state honours Romania: Former Sovereign Knight with Collar of the Order of Michael the Brave, Special Class Romania: Former Sovereign Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania Romania: Former Sovereign Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Faithful Service Romania: Recipient of the Military Virtue Medal Romania: Former 1st Sovereign Recipient of the Crusade against Communism Medal Romania: Recipient of the Eagle of Romania Romania: Emblem of Honour of the Romanian Armed Forces Romania: Commander badge of the Romanian Land Forces Romania: Commander badge of the Romanian Naval Forces Romania: Commander badge of the Romanian Air Force Romanian Jewish community: Recipient of the Romanian Dedication Medal Romanian Jewish community: Recipient of the Alexandru Şafran Medal

this could be either 1st or 2nd class

I honestly was very surprised he was still alive, 96 years - what an amazing life he had!

King Mihai (Michael) I of Romania died today: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_I_of_Romania His reign was 1927-1930 and 1940-1947. Last King of Romania, initially ally of Hitler during WW2 and later switched side and supported Soviet Union, last living recipient of Soviet Victory order. Last of the great monarchs!

Lovely minis, note how two ribbons are stitched together to wear these as a pair.

It's possible, I am not an expert in such awards, I just repeated what dealer who has this award for sale said.

ITALY, DUCHY OF PARMA. AN ORDER OF CONSTANTINE OF ST.GEORGE, GRAND CROSS STAR, C.1880. A finely toned star with rays interlaced by silver ribbing, gold centre with well executed red enamels, affixed by hour gold prongs, reverse with solid pin assembly, measuring 82 mm (w) x 82 mm (h)

It looks like a copy to me

interesting examples! Breitling is known for making numerous customized watches for national airforce units and teams. Although they normally paint national logo on the dial of the watch. I am curious why watches were not sent back and serviced by Breitling? It looks like serious defect, such high grade watch should be able to handle battery replacement.

that Nazi uniform looks odd on him

That's very unusual photo! Ferdinand was promoted to the Fieldmarshal rank on 18 January 1916: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_German_field_marshals#cite_note-Matthews-95 Here he wears WWII period Fieldmarshal uniform. This means his Imperial rank was transferred to and recognized by Nazi period German army.

922F, Portrait on Post #10 is not of King's mother, but of Anastasia Tosheva. She was famous Bulgarian teacher, volunteer during Russian-Turkish war, director of girls school Stara Zagora and mother of famous WWI General Stefan Toshev. https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Анастасия_Тошева

Only 1st and 3rd classes had green enamel from 1908. Other classes did not change.

Wow, that star is unbelievable!!! C&M cross for sale is clearly different from the one which belong to Ferdinand - the way the flames are made and the portraits of the saints, etc. Still, there are some similarities, for example arms of the cross. These could be from the same jeweler, just made at different times.