paul wood

I can't find it in Heering and Husken's book and I fear from the fabric and quality (assuming it's a reasonable image) it doesn't look very real to me. I am not saying that every tinnie known is listed in the book (mine is 1986) but given the prices some of the more interesting ones are making I suspect that the boy's are at their tricks. Paul

Weltskreig Ehrenkreuz (World War Honour Cross) Fur Frontkampfer (Combatants) with swords Fur Kriegsteilnehmer (Non Combatants) without swords, light bronze Fur Hinterbliebene (War Widows) without swords, dark bronze. A nice and relatively inexpensive series to collect with loads of different makers, Urkunde (bestowal documents) and packets of issue for these crosses are quite plentiful and inexpensive, I would go for some of those, I do not know how many variants there are (I'm sure someone on this forum has a good idea) but it is a collecting field which should keep you out of mischief for a while. Hope this helps, All the best, Paul

Dear Sam, It appears to be the standard German issue (usually either B B & Co or .925 stamped on reverse) the exception being the addition of the seven ruby like stones. Thank you for showing it to me most interesting. Paul

A most interesting group. The green riband allegedly denotes two rescues, however that is the only coloured riband I have ever seen for the medal. The other Turkish Medal is the Liyakat medal with AH 1332 (1914) clasp. The clasp on the riband I cannot identify as the image is not clear enough. The life saving medal on its own is worth about ?200 so a nice group. Any chance of an image of the unusual AH 1333 War Medal (incorrectly called the Gallipoli Star. Paul

I agree that they are a most attractive medal. I have only handled a small number in many years but because they are of commemorative nature they are unexpensive in relation to their scarcity. Paul

If you look on the Morton and Eden website (wwwmortonandeden.com), follow the links to sales archive and look in ANS part 2 Lot 1044 and there is a photo of Chicken's VC (now in the Ashcroft collection). You are more than welcome to use it as long as you give M&E credit. All the best, Paul

Dear Veteran, I am assuming that the photograph is an enlargement, according to Falkenstein the medal is 27 mm. As far as I can see from the image I can see no cause for alarm as to the authenticity. Maria Theresia was King (yes king) in Hungary and the Magyars tended to be the HRE's cannon fodder. I would suggest that the medal is at least scarce, if not rare. All the best, Paul

Alle ist echt? Paul

I spoke to Andreas at the OMSA convention. I believe that the next one is sometime in October and I gather from Andreas it is going to be a fairly hefty tome. Paul

For anyone wanting information on the Order of Milosh the Great there is an extremely good OMSA monograph (No. 3) by Dragomir M. Acovic published in 1980 containing statutes, nominal lists of all the awards. It is interesting to note that it was only 9 times in the first class 22 times 2nd, 66 3rd and 128 4th so a geniunly very rare order in all classes. there are also pictures of all the classes with the exception of the 1st and 2nd class badges (So the sash badge illustrated is a very valuable image, there is also a picture of a warrant (that must be as rare as rocking horse manure). I was fortunate enough to purchase the monograph for the princely sum of $4 at the OMSA convention. Paul

Condition is a major factor in pricing. The halfcrowns, shillings and sixpences were produced in large numbers. A used but readable example is about ?20 a very fine example, minor wear but a nice coin about ?75 and a mint state example ?200-300. Also with E-bay there is no acounting for buyer's quirkiness. Paul

These coins comprisng gold 5 guineas, 1745 and 1746, guinea and half-guinea, 1745, silver crown, 1746, halfcrown, shilling and sixpence, 1745 and 1746. These were struck from Spanish treasure captured during Admiral Anson circumnavigation of the globe 1740-44. There are also British gold coins struck in 1703 with Vigo below the bust following the successful Anglo-Dutch expedition against the Spanish culminating in the victory in Vigo Bay, bullion seized from this was made into coins. Hope this is of interest. Paul

It might be worth phoning Andreas about them (0049(0)1712662781) he should be able to answer your questions. Paul

Dear Alex, I know Andreas very well, he (nowadays) never sells anything knowingly false (or it is described as such). I can only assume that the buyers for the material were not around, or maybe the estimates were too pushy. If they had had the awards with them they would have gone through the roof. Paul

Did he get wounded after a bit of Madras S & M (your other purchase). Nice to meet you at OMSA and, as I thought, you picked up the other bargain of the convention. All the best, Paul

Thanks, my Latin at the best of times was somewhat rusty. I think the answer is to look up Mr Blomquist on census or registrar records, presumably his headstone bears the date of death. All the best, Paul

Given the motto on the folding ruler which loosely translated (with my dog Latin) "Work always wins" would suggest that it is almost certainly a craftsman's organisation. The person on the headstone was presumably a high ranking official of the organisation. Living in the UK I'm not sure how you can access Birth and Death certificates in the U.S. but if you are able to do so then this should help to go a long way towards resolving the mystery.

Ed I notice the medal says 12 years so presumably it is not 14 years. Paul

M.S.M. London Gazette, 26/4/17 p. 3450, general citation. (R.Q.M.S.) Paul

Does any one know where these fakes are coming from. Paul

All I can think is there must be some real suckers around, a fake of that quality shouldn't fool a visually impaired person. Ugh!!!! Paul