Alex K

Attached is a known fake that eminated from Poland in the 70's. It has several distinct features to it. 1) It is a one piece stamping of brass/bronze. 2) The beading is rubbish. 3)It has the strangest dates I've seen 4) It has a spurious stamp on the pin of 595 5) It is slightly smaller than an original. The example shown when obtained in the 70's had a silvered finish, over time however the silver wash has deteriorated to reveal the underlying base metal It did come in the case- attached, don't know of the cases authenticity. regards Alex

Hi haynau, you're right, someone has tried to re-paint the damaged bits, however I have no way of telling if it is new or decades old regards Alex

Hi Jim & Kevin, It's interesting to here the views so far that something which is damaged has more personal value than a finely restored piece, It'll remain as it is. thanks for the input regards Alex

Hi gentlemen, 75% of me says leave it alone and the remaining 25% says its a shame and would look better if it was repaired, this was the reason for the questions, I sort of know deep down that some of it's authenticity would be lost and in the end be just a pretty bauble. At least in this state it has some sort of history to it. I guess it'll remain as it is, and buy a better piece when I spot one Thanks for the responces regards Alex

tony your'e spot on Iv'e just noticed as I scanned it into the PC that there is a swan in front of the initials, great bit of info, thanks, the medal is a Ehrenkreuz Fur Eltern Alex

Tony I'm not sure as the marking are either poorly defined or a light stamping, I'll post a a picky. I have numerous others but they've already been identified on the list regards Alex

case OOPS sorry the post came out the wrong way round

Hi everyone, the attached TWM made by Godet has unfortunately suffered damage to the enamelling. It comes with the original case and a piece of original ribbon. I don't think that the damage is due to wearing the award, as by my reckoning, it shows no sign of wear on the reverse, and unlikely to come with the original box and ribbon. It has the usual quality shown with Godet awards. If it was damage by wear I could quite happily accept it Questions 1) Would members ever consider having it re-enamelled proffesionally? (Is that spelt right, it looks funny?) 2) Is the current value of the award sufficient to merit the expense of restoration? 3) if restored, would it have a marked effect on its value- and authenticity? 4) If restoration of the enamelling reduced it's value or authenticity initially, would the value eventually "Catch-up" as these pieces naturally increase in value?. i believe the Painting "Mona Lisa" in the Louvre in Paris was attacked a few years ago and damaged, and subsequently restored, does this also mean that it is now worth less or is now less desirable than before?? 5) last question, if it was known that this was a restoration, would it detract from a members desire to aquire or own the piece? apologies for rambling but to me this is an interesting aspect as to individual thoughts and patterns with regards to repair, restoration, preservation of historically collectible items. any thought greatly appreciated regards Alex

Kevin I do actually keep all my duds for that very reason regards

Kev excellent, really useful, as I have said in my post that a small piece of the surface finish has come off and there is a grey (War metal?) finish underneath and explain why it feels lighter, I'll try to locate the book, and check the dimensions of mine, maybe the other forums are wrong after all!! better dig it out of the dustbin! regards Alex

Hi Paul, there are cheaper versions out there, the prices on that site are on the higher side regards Alex

Hi Paul, there are cheaper versions out there, the prices on that site are on the higher side regards Alex

Hi kev, thanks for the info. Its interesting that you say there was a silver/silvered version, I always assumed that genuine examples had the "Brass" look. The surface bubbling I've seen on other decorations, mostly later pieces where the finish reacts over time with the base metal used for the award. It does feel lighter in weight than I would imagine a bronze version to weigh, Perhaps I should keep an open mind as to its authenticity until proven one way or another regards Alex

Wilco is quite correct, The LDO issued instructions to the manufacturers that the EK was to be manufactured to the original concept of the award, (1813) and that the only permitted material that could be used was iron for the core, hence Eiserne kreuz. It should be remembered that the LDO was only concerned with the manufacture of PRIVATE PURCHASE awards, these were in effect, copies which could be purchased by the medal recipients as additional pieces for those who could prove entitlement to them, and therefore were not officially sanctioned by the Reich Chancellery who issued original awards. The situation becomes slightly more confusing because after the edict was issued, manufacturers who had stocks of medals produced before that time (And this applies more to the RK) were ordered to hand over their stock of finished medals to the reich chancellery. It is therefore possible that awards of medals after this time could be of non iron cores and non silver frames as the chancellerey issued medals that it had in stock. It can be very confusing. attached is an EK1 with Brass core, I believe made by Wachter & Lange of Ludenshied, as can be seen it is a brass core, and no maker mark BTW there is no evidence that suggests that they were produced for the Kreigsmarine so that their medals would not rust in a salty atmosphere. regards Alex

So in effect "Royal House Order" versions of awards given, mean only something to those that give and receive! In a state that has basically abolished Royal Dynasties regards

I have one stamped RV Pforzheim No 5 1 x looks like "& WS" very faint

Paul, repro RK's are ten a penny, the solid die stamped piece I posted, which with a bit of natural ageing will look quite acceptible (heaven forbid!!) but will not fool the serious researcher, and costs anything from about $20 upwards mine cost about $60 and looks Ok purely as a display item. I have to add that copies if thats what they are meant to be, are not a problem, it's the people who make copies that are trying to fool people into thinking that they are original pieces that make this area medal collecting a minefield. this site makes repros of various quality, but looking at the RK's shown they are clearly not original. http://www.thirdreich.ca/museumcopies.php BTW they are not in my and other posters on this forum made from original dies regards Alex

Hi Ed I'm a little confused about what you mean? regards

This is a medal in my collection, Identified on other forums as a fake, (Unless someone can tell me different,) It seems that this was only ever made in bronze. I'm not certain if this is supposed to be a "Silver" version. on one side where the surface finish has come of there appears to be the a grey material from which it is made

Once again Carol I thanks for the speedy reply and link, It seems to me that despite the possible uncertainty over it being an existing Royal House Order or a newly "Adopted Post Communist" award it has lost it's Communist look, which I thought it may do, break with the past etc etc. regards

Carol I Thanks for the speedy reply regards

Hi yet another award in my collection, I believe it to the the Order of Military Merit 6th class. Does this have the correct ribbon? and secondly, I have seen other pieces which have the Cypher on the obverse central medallion, My piece has a tricolour enamelled centre, as they only differ in the central medallion, would this identify any specific period that it would have been awarded? Thanks for any input regards Alex K

Out of curiosity have they reverted to the pre-communist design for the badge or don't you know?, As with the fall these regimes, decorations and symbolism seems to fallen out of favour regards Alex

Hi Megan pretty stunning piece, it was of course also awarded by the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1945 as the Order of Cyril & Methodius (The SS saintly description was dropped) and had a completely appearance, Does Bulgaria still award it now? (Post communist) and if so what appearance does it take? regards Alex K

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