ChrisKelly

Both original. The cross on the left is not hallmarked. The one on the right is hallmarked "800".

Got this from a dealer in Israel!

Image 1! At the top of the picture! Is that a tiny little "vor dem Feinde" device for a ribbon bar? Super-extra-rare!

Although not a coin or medallion... Emergency currency of the German states:

An interesting combination... Source: https://www.emedals.com/products/oldenburg-a-first-war-period-friedrich-august-medal-bar-grouping-g35352 Beware! The first class cross is a popular award to fake! Here are a few examples: Sources: https://www.kelsmilitary.com/product/E32.html https://murphsmilitaria.com/product/germany-oldenburg-ww1-medal-fa2-friedrich-august-cross-1914-1918-decoration-award/ https://www.epicmilitaria.com/friedrich-august-cross-1st-class.html Some authentic examples... Sources: https://www.kuenker.de/de/auktionen/stueck/426854 https://www.kuenker.de/ru/archiv/stueck/137470 https://www.kuenker.de/de/archiv/stueck/137471 https://auctionet.com/en/events/60-14-auktion-sommer-2016/438-friedrich-august-kreuz-1-klasse-blackened-iron-counter-cross-with-screw-washer-silver

The Friedrich August Cross was established on 24 September 1914 in two grades, a first and second class cross. On 20 September 1918, the bar, "vor dem Feinde" was authorized as a ribbon device, but not likely presented before the end of hostilities. Approximately 6,900 awards of the first class and 62,800 of the second class were made. Source: http://home.att.net/~david.danner/militaria/oldenburg.htm From the now apparently defunct Russian web-site, "antique-photos.com":

One from my collection, Prussia General à la suite:

From the now apparently defunct Russian web-site, "antique-photos.com":

Postcard in my collection... See also: https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battlefields/gazetteer-of-the-western-front/gazetteer-of-the-western-front-saint-quentin/

Postcard from my collection:

I've had these for several years... I know almost nothing about South Africa's military, or how old these may or may not be...

Award figures: The War Merit Cross: Created on 8 December 1914. 18,374 on the combatant's ribbon. 1,116 on the non-combatant's ribbon. Sources: http://home.att.net/~david.danner/militaria/lippe-detmold.htm https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Merit_Cross_(Lippe) Images: https://globalwarmuseum.com/produkt/bar-wwi-with-iron-cross-second-class-lippe-detmold-cross-war-merit-1914-leopold-iv-and-the-hindenburg-cross/

My most recent purchase... Less than $30USD including postage. Miniature hallmarked L/11 for Wilhelm Deumer, in Lüdenscheid.

A closer look at the Gode reproduction:

Both showing women munitions factory workers.

This one? Sent by a friend in the U.K. to me, presumably the cupro-nickel version for circulation.

A friend in the U.K. sent me this... Is this the first circulating coin with Charles III's portrait?

Explanatory Addenda: Civil service crosses were awarded for 25 and 40 years. They're generally indicated on award certificates as "(in) silver" or "(in) gold" as opposed to "second class", "first class", etc. The "special class", awarded for 50 years, was actually a labor award, not a civil service award. Time was counted one-for-one. There was no "double service credit" for wartime or military service, such as the situation with many of the German states' long service awards during the First World War, or the "Kampfzeit", in reference to the NSDAP service crosses. While military service did count, as it is government service, the recipient had to be employed in a civil service job, national, state or local, on the appropriate anniversary (25 or 40 years). To my knowledge, these crosses, unlike their military counterparts, were awarded until the last months, or even weeks, of the war. One acquaintance of mine claimed to have once been in possession of an award document for the silver 25 year cross dated September 1944. Additionally, I see no evidence that the metallurgy changed between 1938 and 1944... I have never seen one produced in zinc.

Just as an aside... Miniature medals have always been part of the West. North Americans and Western Europeans wear miniature medals on super-extra-formal occasions [tuxedo/white tie/black tie/mess dress]. In Western Europe, the tradition has been to wear full-sized medals on civilian attire. Miniature medals are not customary to Eastern Europe. Everyone, military and civilian, always wears full-sized awards and decorations. I think this is also true in Asia. The miniature awards in my collection are likely Russian/Eastern European manufacture, but are not "official" government issued awards, much like the German miniatures from the time of the Kaisers through the Bundesrepublik. I thought they were neat. Novelty, but still an interesting addition.

I'm not sure who produced these miniatures, but I believe they are Russian made, and intended for veterans... In other words, not fakes and reproductions to dupe collectors. You're right... They are "hot sellers" on ebay.

I still have it with my collection.

This was for sale online some time ago, and has been sold. Genuine. Good reference.

Just for reference, mine from almost thirty years ago, AF Form 2274.