Elmar Lang

Hello, the STM II Klasse in Scheider's Ordensspange is a silver piece. Just different shades in the silver patina...

I can confirm that officially struck pieces made of zinc existed. Among my a-h Tapferkeitsmedaillen, I have a "bronze" one, with signature of Tautenhayn, the rim struck with a "ZINK" mark.

Actually, I see a little defect to the soldering of the suspension, quite visible to the reverse.

In this post I see what looks like a fine piece of the 1859-1866 type Goldene Tapferkeitsmedaille.

Hello, just to add some further material to this discussion, I would like to post a scan of an old drawing dating from the '30s (tempera on thin cardboard) from the archive of an Italian firm, once producers of orders and decorations, depicting the "Hero" class of Albania's Military Order:

I agree that good info are what helps everybody to avoid bad "surprises"... All the best, E. L.

Hello, this fine badge, should have been mounted on the guard-valve of an Austrian, service sword for court dress or for state officials. Best wishes, E.L.

Hello, your contribution is an interesting addition to this discussion. In this case (the medals struck to be mounted on "german-style" Ordensspangen, after the Anschluß), such medals have to be considered among the pieces produced for private purchase, because the original, imperial Austrian medals, were easily mounted on german-style bars. Best wishes, E.L.

Hello, thank you for the kind information. I would like to reassure you: my collar is an original piece, complete and homogeneous, with no defects, excepts some minor wear to a few white enamelled "pearls". Its original case of issue is also present. The collar sold at the Dorotheum some years ago, if I correctly remember, had the centre link (that to which the badge is suspended), changed with a new part and the badge was also missing. Besides that, a very fine piece. Recently, another beautiful, cased collar, was sold at Künker: this piece had its numbers erased, the closure-piece missing and a restoration to the badge. I know the mentioned copies, that can be dangerous to an unexperienced eye. Some are made with cast parts, but sometimes I see also other collars, actually being the well-known, beautiful copies produced by Rothe & Neffe, Vienna, in the '60s, then "upgraded" with fake marks. I have already seen some of the fine copies, once in the collection of the late Prof. Giovanni Fattovich of Venice, Italy, auctioned in 2015/'16, now re-appearing, with fake marks and other treatments to give them a "venerable" appearance. Best wishes, E.L.

Hello, I see this curious Order of the Iron Crown: obviously, it's a copy/toy order. An identical piece appeared at newsstands as part of an "Orders of the World Encyclopaedia": I've bought it some years ago and the EKO became one of the favourite toys of my then 3 years old son. The accompanying booklet, contained some hilarious mistakes, both technical and historical. Just to educate me a little more, how much that toy's price went to sky? Where was it for sale/sold? Re. the suspension ring of the collar's badge of the Iron Crown, if compared to the sash badge's one, it was of a smaller diameter and the gold wire had a thicker section, as visible on a detail from my own collar in gold of the Order.

Hello, an officially awarded Tapferkeitsmedaille of the FJ type, period 1867-1916, should always bear the "LEISEK" (Golden and Silver 1st Class) and "TAUTENHAYN" (Silver 2nd Class and Bronze) signatures. That postcard is a well-known one, where is depicted also a Geistliches Verdienstkreuz "PIIS MERITIS" of a type made by Messrs. Rothe & Neffe, for private purchase (and produced/sold until the late '70s of XX Century). Best wishes, E.L.

Well, For the not-young-anymore collectors, the name of Mr. Blass is quite well-known. I've called workshop what probably was a true industry of fakes and copies, in any field of phaleristic. Besides that, this gentleman was a true expert, with a deep knowledge in the subject. I still remember one of his advertisements (on "Orden & Militaria Journal" or "Info") in the '80s, with a text witnessing his modesty and sense of understatement: "Ernst Blass, einer Der besten Kenner von Oden und Ehrenzeichen as aller Welt und aller Zeiten". Let's not forget though, what the ancient Romans used to say: "de mortuis, nihil nisi bonum". E. L.

Hello, The Feldpilotenabzeichen pictured above, is a copy that can be attributed to the "workshop" of the late Ernst Blass. Many of such pieces have been sold on the catalogues (Auction and "Merkur" ones) of the firm Graf Klenau OHG Nachf. of Munich, Germany, when owned by the mentioned Mr. Blass.

Hello, a very well made close-up of the Zimbler mark would help. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)

For instance, the Italian "Colonial Order of the Star of Italy", instituted in 1911, was made in a form of a white enamelled five-pointed star. The suspension crown (present in the classes from Officer upwards) was the typical, Italian royal crown, but the upper orb, was plain, without the cross. E.L.

Hello, all Austrian, officially made Tapferkeitsmedaillen (except the Golden ones of the 1859-'66 type), should bear the official engraver's name under the Emperor's bust. If not, they are pieces made by various firms firms, for private purchase. Some types of the privately-made medals are interesting pieces and are worth to be collected. E.L.

I agree with Macchianera. E.L.

Let's never forget that the fantasy of the "creators" of self-styled orders has no limits. More, the maker uses what's available off-the-shelf. E.L.

A fine medal indeed. I need to note, that each infantry regiment had a sappers' unit, this means why Mario Pacchiotti appears as being a soldier in an Infantry rgt.. Al Valore medals awarded for the Lybian campaign are quite sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. E.L.

Hello, what makes you think that the grey tunic with green Egalisierung could be from the republican period? Best wishes, E.L.

Thank you for the kind words! I'm always glad if I can be of any help. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)

I agree, this is a later (although good quality) copy, most probably made by Rothe, Vienna. More, an award piece of the Order of St. Stephen should always be made of gold. As a matter of interest, I hereby post three pieces from my collection: a very early, austrian-made gold réduction; a "Kleinkreuz" in gold from the late 19th Century and a mid 19th Century, gilt silver, privately made "Kleinkreuz". Best wishes, E.L.

The order of St. Maurice and Lazarus is an ancient order belonging to the Savoy dinasty and was one of the highest orders in the Kingdom of Italy. The Order of St. Lazarus is another thing, that for some time had a sort of protectorship by the Vatican. In any case it is considered as one of the various "self-styled orders". E.L.

Hello, I've just seen this discussion on the St. Sava Order for non-Christians. From what I remember, this isn't actually a butchered order, but the group of a "self-styled" order, made with the basis of a St. Sava one. Honestly, I don't remember the exact name of this "honour", but it should have been something like the "Imperial, Byzantine Order of the Crown": I remember an identical set in the shop of Messrs. Cravanzola/Gardino of Rome in 2010, shortly before the sale and closure of their ancient shop in via del Corso. This one could be the same group (but the badge was suspended to a red sash). It is not a mystery that actual orders are often modified to prepare "privately instituted" ones. Later, the various passages and the fantasy of some temporary owner probably do the rest. Enzo (E.L.)

A very fine piece indeed! Enzo (E.L.)