Elmar Lang

Following to Paul's interesting observation, I would like to post the pictures of a nice, little group, belonged to a soldier who fought in the 1859, 60-61 and 1866 campaigns also earning the "Menzione Onorevole" (later transformed in the Bronze Medal for Military Valour), where the French medal, bears the signature of Sacristain.

Hello, putting order in the drawers of my collection, overseas dept., I've found two medals that are unknown to me. The first, is surely referring to parachuting, made of anodyzed and lacquered aluminium, approx 45 mm dia. The second medal, made of silver-plated bronze, I think should be referred to athletic, and from 1963. the suspension is an elaborate pattern of laurel leaves soldered to the rim, a strong loop to the upper centre, fitted with a thick, round ring; approx. 65 mm. dia. I would be glad for an identification and for the translation of the inscriptions... Many thanks in advance, all the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Interesting information indeed! I am not surprised that the Emperor would have sent his aid-de-camp to see what happened to the Erzherzog Thronfolger...

I see that Gf. Hoyos was also wearer of the "Franz Josef Kreuz", also known as "Militantibus a Latere Meo", something not common to see...

Hello, here: although an 11 years old topic, we can have some info and pictures of the evolution of this fine award. Best, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, this is my DDR "Grenzschild", removed by me and a friend of mine, off a "Grenzsäule" in the days of the "Wende", when the Grenztruppen were not dangerous anymore, or simply, they were less concerned in defending a vanished border... The damage to the reverse was done with a battery-operated tool, to cut the top screw, after having hammered the relatively rotting concrete of the border pillar.

Hello again, the "1951" thing, I suspect is just a mistake of the maker. The Order was reinstituted in 1947 and also the officers who, still alive from 1947 onwards, who earned the OMS earlier than June 2nd, 1946 (proclamation of the Republic of Italy), had to exchange their Savoy's type decoration, with the "new one". The same, happened with the Medal for Military Valour (Medaglia al Valore Militare) in its three grades, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Also in the Order's Honour Roll, all knights of all times, are now described as having received the "Ordine Militare d'Italia", instead the "Ordine Militare di Savoia". I would add that very few pre-1946 knights, or those decorated with the Medal for Military Valour, wore the republican type on their uniform, being the Savoy model quite tolerated.

Actually, many used to wear the OMS with the savoy-crossed medallion as "obverse", but statutorily, the obverse is the one with the crossed swords.

Hello, the obverse is the side with the crossed swords and the year "1855". All the best, Enzo

Being "self styled orders" otherwise fake orders themselves, the average quality of their insignia can vary, from true jeweler's work, to cheap workmanship, depending on how rich was the "grand master" of such amusing "honours"...

II'd like to revive this old thread with a question: is this the piece illustrated in the old Klietmann's "Deutsche Auszeichnungen" plates' volume? It looks like a very well finished piece of the so-called "Meybauer" type. Any opinion? All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, the Ethiopian Campaign Medal of the official, state issue, should bear the crowned "Z" mark of the Royal Italian Mint, but due to the very large number of medals that had to be awarded, the Ministry of War purchased all the medals necessary to complete the distribution, from various makers, f. instance, Lorioli, Johnson, Pagani, etc. I confirm that this medal is usually finished with a dark, almost black patina. The other medal looks ok too. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

Hello, Being back home after a period at the sea with my wife and children, here I am reading again the pages of this Forum. I can only confirm what was correctly written by the colleagues. From what I can see in the pictures, the badge is a poor copy, struck with fake silver and maker's mark and aged with a chemically applied patina. The mentioned markings, are more and more often appearing (along with the lozenge-shaped mark of Rothe), on fake orders and badges of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. I think that in the future we'll have interesting material for passionate discussions.

Well, some hungarian colleague could be of more help, but "Feneteőr", means "Bastard"...

A medal with the same reverse with the tughrah of the hereby discussed one, is illustrated in Edhem Eldhem "Pride and Privilege", page 374, fig. 15, where the author describes such pieces as "Unofficial medals and pins commemorating the Young Turk Revolution and the re-establishment of the Constitution, ca. 1908". Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)