Bill Garvy

Detail. . .

Award Sheet. . .

Reverse. . .

Award Card. . .

Reverse. . .

Awarded October 15, 1945, an MZPP variation, to Lieutenant Aleksandr Petrovich Chilikanov, Platoon Leader, 342nd Independent Battalion of State Communications, NKVD.

Good eye, Chris!

Maja, may we please see the rest of your Iron Cross?

Thanks!

That is the correct method for mounting the disc. . .

I'll bet it was the vinegar, baking soda, and vaseline process you described in your previous post. It cleaned up nicely! Rust never sleeps. The mark on the jump ring looks like a clover leaf. . .

Thank you for the clarification on your cleaning process. The vaseline would account for the shiny finish. The first cross you posted looks authentic. I think the concern is for the "5" stamp on the ring. I'd really like to solicit Micha's best thinking on this matter.

The core on the first cross you posted appears to have been refinished. What do others think?

That type of "5" appears on "Floch" manufactured reproductions, for example. . .

Another hypothesis is the "5" stamp may have well been added some time after the cross was manufactured to artificially inflate its value.

Reverse. . .

Another example for comparison. . .

Maker mark. . .

Reverse. . .

Another scruffy example. . .

Another example, this one a cased KO in 2nd Class. . .

Reverse. . .

Here is #777803, a mere 905 numbers away from yours, for purposes of comparison. . .

Thank you for your thorough analysis, Rick. I am inclined to get the Red Star researched inasmuch as none of the documents that came with this group make mention of it. . .

bitchin' hash pipe. . .

Very compelling; thank you very much, Ferdinand!

With "1957" Oak Leaves & Swords. . .

Reverse. . .