paul wood

I have an original consigned for my next auction, given the broadness of the rim compared to an original I would suggest it is at best a novodel (a mint made re-strike late 19th century) or at worst a copy. I have seen several good copies of these medals before. The originals are very rare and should be worth in the region of $5,000. Diakov is the best work for it, it is mainly for commemorative medals but includes all award medals, the Caucasus medal is included in volume 4. If my memory serves me well I believe Werlich does not even mention it in his work. All the best. Paul

In my opinion it is a Scots Guards sweetheart brooch, the Star of the Order of the Thistle is their regimental badge. probably First World War but quite nice. All the best Paul

Alex, That's why I asked for an image of the back, I am fairly certain it is a wrong un but the reverse would have confirmed my suspicions, all the best. Paul

Alex any chance of a picture of the reverse of your Tiger. All the best, Paul

I suspect Ind's medals may have been a late issue (I have seen similar naming on medals issued in the late 20's and early 30s.) Paul

It is not the VC winner the decoration would have been on his BWM and Victory. Paul

Major A.E.B. Ind served with the 6th Territorial Battalion of The North Staffordshire Regiment 1914-19 (employed permanent base battalion). Hope this helps. All the best, Paul

The piece with the toughra on the obverse is an imitation of a gold 500 piastres of Abdul Hamid II and I suggest it was made at a local Turkish jewellers, the other is beyond my ken. All the best, Paul

Not sure, Worth a second class stamp though, nothing ventured nothing gained. All the best, Paul

Met Collection, Ground Floor, Empress State Building, Empress Approach, Lillie Road, SW6 1TR. Probably won't have the information to hand but should be able to point you in the right direction. Paul

The disc is as wrong as you can get if the Royal mint had produced as cruddy a portrait of George V as that they would have been sent to the Tower and shot. Paul

It's the Army Long Service bar, 1st Class, for N.C.O.s with 21 Years service as issued between 1826-1913, there are several varieties, I suspect yours is the 1895-1913 type but I am sure one of our Imperial buffs will give you chapter and verse ( for type see Hessenthal/Shreiber 1388). All the best, Paul

Kevin I assume they are Metropolitan Police medals (sometimes City of London). Might be worth contacting the Metropolitan (or City of London) Police Museum. If they don't have the relevant information they may know where to look, the other options are the censuses 1891 and 1901 which I believe are available on line and you may be able to track him down from there. All the best, Paul

The IMHO is not only for people who helped Jews in World War 2 but for other persecuted groups as well, by the nature of the beast the vast majority of the awards will be to be people who helped Jewish victims. I feel however that there are alternative ways of recognizing these brave people, who should have been recognised many years previously. Paul

There was a very interesting interview with Denis Avey on the Today programme yesterday. Amongst other things he lost the sight in one eye for standing up for a young Jewish prisoner (a guard whacked him with his revolver butt). All the best, Paul

Many thanks, I actually succeeded through the OMSA ribbon bank. all the best, Paul

Very attractive rust marks Richard. Paul

The goldfish that mutated into a shark. Paul

At least it is easily dismissable as a piece of tat unlike much of the fakes coming out of China. Paul

If genuine very reasonable, however there is something about the reverse of the badge (whether it is the photo or not) makes me uneasy, I'm wondering if it might be something emanating from China. All the best, Paul

Mervin, Most interesting. The notes from 1908 were still circulating in 1920. Then Germany got stung with reparations and the value of the mark went into freefall (a bit like Zimbabwe today). There were cases of people ordering a meal at say 5 million marks, by the time they had eaten it it was 7 million marks By 1924 it got to the point where 5,000,000,000,000 marks was the equivalent of 1 US dollar (5 billion (English billions not devalued American ones which are really milliards). Notes were produced up to the value of 50 billion marks by the end. The hyperinflation ruined many people and was one of the many reasons that Hitler finally triumphed. The notes themselves are extremely common and almost worth less than the paper they are printed on but they are a fascinating snapshot of post war Germany. All the best, Paul

Kev, Are you sure that the last three letters aren't WGM which would be Worshipful Grand Master, thus suggesting Masonic. All the best, Paul

Jeff, It is as you say by Spink and Son and desiogned by Frank Bowcher it is the companion piece to the Baden Powell Mafeking, Laurence Brown in British Historical Medals (no. 36780 only records it in bronze and lists at as relatively common but I would imagine in silver it must be quite rare. All the best, Paul

Looks quite nice to me as an example of the 4th class Rote Adler, not a rare piece but I have always thought it an attractive piece. Paul

The Natal Coronation 02 was in 3 classes 51 mm to native chiefs, 29 mm, possibly local nobs and 21mm schoolchildren. The larege medal as well as being most beautiful is quite scarce. All the best, Paul