paul wood

I agree with Avsar. Genuine pieces with scimitars both of the Medjidjie and Osmanie are very rare as they were only issued for a relatively short time. While the quality of the illustration of the piece in question leaves something to be desired and the illustrations of the genuine pieces are of excellent quality it is not something I would wish to risk my money one without a cast iron return if not satisfied guarantee. All the best, Paul

I actually had the privilege to examine some of these items which had been left to his wife. They were the two Order illustrated and in some quantity. Those cased were Da Costa made. I have no evidence that the Star and the Crown were awarded by Carol while in exile as they were more Romanian governmental awards, The Order of Merit and the Hohenzollern Orders were both dynastic awards and as he considered himself to be the dynastic head of the Romanian branch of the House of Hohenzollern he would have felt entitled to award these decorations. Paul

How very strange, the practice of awarding bronze medals was not adopted until the 1885-87 Burma Campaign and the only people to receive them were Indian Army non-combatant troops, such as sycees, bearers, Bhistis etc. which previously did not receive any medallic recognition (there are a few incidents of non-combatant troops receiving privately engraved medals at the regiments expense but these are as rare as rocking horse manure). Combatant troops in both the British and the Indian Army whether British or Indian ALWAYS received silver medals. The bronze medal was relatively short lived. The last campaign it was awarded for was the Abor campaign of 1911-12 and the last bronze medal awarded where the was an Identical silver was of course the BWM which was awarded to various foreign labour corps. Would be very interested to see an image of the medal in order to establish its credentials. There was of course the bronze Kabul to Kandahar Star which was awarded to all combatant troops who took part in the Kabul to Kandahar march. All the best, Paul

Yes it is a nice 4th class Eduard Vladimir with the original crossed ribbon $5,000-7000 would be a reasonable price but more that that it is starting to become really expensive (or at least at 2008 prices). At least it is genuine compared to most of the nitrogenous waste offered on E-scam Paul

Its a Vladivostok City Authority dog tag. I can't translate the top line or the first word of the second but I have managed to surmise from what I have translated. Paul

I believe the Orders were made by the Italian firm Bomisa. I have seen the order in lists and have handled a couple myself. I suspect that a tranche came out of Bomisa for public sale (rather like many of the Sudanese and Ugandan decorations emerged from Spink. Now an awarded piece with a bestowal document would be a very rare beast. All the best, Paul

Mario, It is the Libyan Order of the Republic, almost certainly Italian made. Paul

Brian, Most interesting. The fact that he was commissioned in 1911 may explain the Medjidjie. The only way you may find the answer to its award is trawling through the Sudan Gazette.(or Egypt Gazette). Paul

Without a picture of the reverse it is impossible to comment on. Paul

Mervyn, The first coins is a Spanish Netherlands Ducaton of Philip V of Spain2, struck at Antwerp probably 1705, The other is a ducaton of the Dutch province of Overijssel, the date has to be 1739. These have obviously been under the sea and may have been from a wreck as they are suffering from severe water corrosion. It's a shame there is not a definite provenance such as a wreck or a find spot. Since the 1960s when diving techniques and underwater archaeology permitted the exploration of wrecks large numbers of similar coins have been unearthed from the deep. As a collectors piece the coins have little value, but as wreck pieces they are probably worth £30-40 each. I hope this is of help. All the best, Paul

Kevin many thanks, I won't hold my breath, Just hope and pray. Paul

A very good friend of mine has bought a very nice group of British Medals with the Serviciul Credincios Cross at the end. Alas the ribbons are very much on their last legs. He is proposing to re-ribbon them on another bar and mount them with the old ribbons above. He can get plenty of ribbon for the British but the Romanian one is bit of problem. Do any members have some ribbon for the cross which they would be prepared to sell me. Any help would be most gratefully received. Paul

Fantastic selection of Brazilian medals. Nice to see someone contributing to a little studied area of medal collecting. There has been little new work on South American Medals since Gillingham published his book in the ANS series of Numismatic Notes nearly 80 years ago. Keep the images rolling. For the Paraguayans the war an utter disaster with probably as many as 90% of the male population being killed (still loads of women for the small number left). Thanks again for sharing this with us. All the best, Paul

I was under the impression that it was awarded by Nicholas for the suppression of the 1848-49 uprisings in Hungary and Croatia in which Russia actively supported Austria. I vaguely remember seeing a portrait of him around the time of his marriage to Sisi where he was either wearing the medal or the riband, it was along time a go and my quasi-senile memory may be at fault. Paul

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD St. James's Palace, London S.W.I. 5th April 1977. The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to award the Imperial Service Medal to the following officers on their retirement. HOME CIVIL SERVICE Ministry of Defence ABRAM, Joseph, Stores Officer Grade D. AKERS, Thomas Henry, Professional and Technology Officer III. ALLEN, Henry, Process and General Supervisory C. ALLEN, Ronald Oliver, Fitter. ANDREWS, Jack Herbert, Professional and Technology Officer IV. AULD, Archibald, Professional and Technology Officer IV. BADGER, William Bassett, Skilled Labourer. BAIN, Watson, Fitter Charge

THOMSON, George Ward, Supervising Engineer, Grade III, Ministry of Works.

26/3/57 THOMSON, George Ward, Supervising Engineer, Whitehall, March 2, 1937. IMPERIAL SERVICE MEDAL. His Majesty The KING was pleased to award the Imperial Service Medal to the following officers of the Home Civil Service on their retirement:— Allen, Richard Hall, Sorter, London Postal Region. Anderson, Edward, Skilled Workman, Class II, Post Office Engineering Department, London. Andrew, Robert, Postman, Patrington SubOffice, Hull. Aplin, John Frederick, Postman, Birmingham. Ball, John Richard, Postman, Southend-onSea. Barry, Thomas William James, Head Postman, London Postal Region. Beecher, Charles, Overseer, London Postal Region. Bisset, Thomas Taylor, Postman, Dunbar. Bitton, Benjamin John Henry, Assistant Superintendent, Post Office, Manchester. Bolt, Arthur Winter Harris, Sorter, London Postal Region. Bond, George, Sorter, London Postal Region. Borkett, Leonard William, Postman, London Postal Region. Bowden, John Frederick, Postman, Kingstonon-Thames. Bowman, Francis George, Postman, London Postal Region. Bowman, John, Postman, Paisley. Brampton, Edward, Sorter, London Postal Region. Brenchley, Harry, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, Birmingham. Brightwell, Joseph David, Postman, London Postal Region. Britton, Frederick Wynne, Chief Inspector, Post Office Engineering Department, Birmingham Test Section. Bryce, James, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist} Dundee. Burdock, James Ford, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, Southampton. Burnard, Louis Patrick, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, Bristol. Bushell, George William, Sorter, London Postal Region. Carter, James Ernest, Sorter, London Postal Region. Carter, William Edward, Overseer, Post Office, Worthing. Cassels, William Gordon, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, Aberdeen. Chapman, John, Postman, Gilberdyke SubOffice, Hull. Checkley, William, Overseer, London Postal Region. Cheetham, Godfrey, Postman, Kingston-onThames. Chisholm, William David, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, Belfast. Clark, Benjamin Spencer, Overseer, London Postal Region. Collyer, Herbert Henry, Assistant Inspector, Post Office, Leatherhead. Cooper, Ernest, Inspector of Telegraph Messengers, Central Telegraph Office. Cooper, George John, Skilled Workman, Class II, Post Office Engineering Department, London. Cornwell, Walter John, Overseer, Post Office, Birmingham. Cox, Thomas, Overseer, London Postal Region. Cox, William, Skilled Workman, Class II, Post Office Engineering Department, Manchester. Davies, Ezer William, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, Birmingham. Dickinson, Alonza, Postman, Sheffield. Downes, Annie, Assistant Supervisor, Class II, Post Office, Liverpool. Drewell, Alfred Ray, Postman, London Postal Region. Edwards, George Griffiths, Assistant Inspector of Postmen, Wrexham. Elbourn, Frederic, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, Birmingham. English, Edward James, Assistant Superintendent, London Postal Region. Evans, Henry James, Skilled Workman, Class II, Post Office Engineering Department, London. hope this helps GV ISMS were awarded well into 1937. Paul

James, Many thanks for posting this invaluable link it is a most useful research tool. Paul

I am unable to find anything vaguely similar, interestingly the riband for the first piece is that of the Order of the Blue Sky and White Sun but it most definitely is not that order. Do they come from a good source? As you are probably well aware there are a large number of recently made Chinese fantasies. Paul

Nice case, no maker's label on the box.? Paul

Mervyn, It was part of a relatively recent set of medals depicting the Kings and Queens of England, one of these limited editions put out by a variety of private mints. It is however of somewhat better quality than the usual rubbish they produce. His nose is much more sympathetically portrayed than on contemporary medals. Calls for a toast to little gentleman in the black velvet jacket. All the best, Paul

Mervyn One cannot be certain as to the attribution of the ships so I think it is a case of the artist trying to catch the essence of Naval combat. Paul, It was lovely to see you at the O.M.R.S. One day, if I am ever allowed to retire, I will be able to go round the fair in leisure. Still I picked up a Mutiny Medal, clasp Central India to a native farrier. Best wishes, Paul

Alas, although listed in Browns fine work, British Historical medals, Volume 1, the maker of this medal is unknown. It is also known in white metal and less frequently in silver and bronze-gilt. Collectors of Nelsonia rather than those of us with a phalaristic bent would consider the commemorative medals a relevant part of their collection, especially as there were contemporary productions. There were two varieties of this medal in the Suckling collection. M&E 3/7/08 (222 and 223). While the demand for Nelson material is not what it was just prior to the 2005 anniversary the medal still should be worth in the region of 150 euros. All the best, Paul

It is a Carlist decaration ' La Caridad', Comes in 4 classes Cruz en Oro, Cruz en Plata, Medalla en Oro and Medalla en bronze (silver variations are seen) All the badges are badges so the piece you have is the 2nd Class or Cruz en Plata, all insignia of this decoration are rare and I would have thought your piece would be worth between 1,000 and 1,500 euros. All the best, Paul