is enamel hard or soft?

14 hours ago, 922F said:

...  Dr. Paprikoff commented in the 1970's that Ferdinand actively discouraged Bulgarians from accepting this award...

I'd be curious to know why so, is it because they were awarded by Roman Catholic Church, not by official Orthodox religion? 

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.

On 11/29/2017 at 12:38, ilieff said:

Hi all,

I hope it's not too off-topic but I wanted to contribute a little bit more to the discussion about crown variations...

I came across this interesting letter (unfortunately, only a screengrab, as it was part of a video) which has been sent to prime-minister Stambolov, asking him to approve the new design of the 100 Leva gold coin. In the letter the unknown bureaucrat complains that the Prince (Ferdinand I) has 'yet again changed the shape of the crown'.

He writes: 'Two years ago, it used to be like so [first icon from the letter], then it became [second icon], later it changed to [third icon] and now it's [fourth icon]' [...] and then gives some further details.

This is a fairly informal letter and not directly linked to phaleristics, but it clearly shows that the frequent experiments with the appearance of the Bulgarian crown which have been initiated about 1890 and, for a brief period, there have been many iterations, most of which (if not all) have been directly influenced by the Monarch. 

And just for visual reference, here's the final result of the 1894 golden coin:

http://www.bulgariancoins.com/re_BGCoinImages/1262963593_1894100LevaObverse.jpg

 

Regards,

Ilieff

 

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

On 11/19/2017 at 08:33, ilieff said:

The Maltese cross on the below picture (circled). It's the same as shown on the uniform from post 27 in this thread.

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

13 hours ago, Graf said:

... I assume this is the 1st Class Set ...

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!

5 hours ago, Graf said:

Hi Guys

Here are the miniatures of the Order

The badge is 18 mm wide and the Star is 24 mm wide -Silver gilded

 

Best

 

Graf

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

2 hours ago, Trooper_D said:

New World

I believe that this is a Bourbon-Two Sicilies Constantinian star rather than one of Parma. My understanding is that a Parma Constantinian cross has a lower case Omega. 

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

12 hours ago, ilieff said:

The King in a Nazi fieldmarshal's uniform.

By the way, note the large Maltese cross at the bottom - this is the decoration which I still cannot identify. 

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