Elmar Lang

Hello,

my "pretty confidence" is under the condition that -as said- the bar is originally mounted, because there is no other "Kriegsband"-fitted award before the Knight of the Leopold Orden, than the Große Militärverdienstmedaille.

By the way, yes, such a Feldspange could have reached the market and a collector.

For instance, I have that medal, that under serendipitous coincidence, ended up in my humble collection of A-H awards...

Hello,

I would add some details to this interesting topic, with the pictures of my Judge's badge.

It is made of gilt silver; the reverse is struck with the marks of Froment-Meurice and the hand-engraved (better, almost scratched) letters "J. H.", probably of the original owner.

This badge was purchased in auction at Künker's, about 10 years ago.

All the best,

Enzo (E.L.)

Hello,

assuming that the Feldspange is originally mounted, I'd be pretty confident that its first place represents the Große Militärverdienstmedaille (either with the portrait of Emperor Franz Joseph or Karl), followed by further breast decorations (among them, a FJO awarded in peacetime).

Best wishes,

Enzo (E.L.)

The marks, although quite blurry, appear as correct maker's and silver marks. the maker's one looks like -as said- "AZ", the "Windhundpunze" and the "A" mark for Vienna.

If the marks have been faked, this time the forgerer did a good job...

Hello,

this is not related to Russia, but it's the lowest class cross of the Military Order (aka "Military Distinction") of St.George of the Duchy of Lucca so, to be classified amongst the "former Italian States". The crowned, "CL" Monogram is that of the Duke Carlo Lodovico.

The correct ribbon is white, with broad, red side stripes.

I hope this information would be of some help,

best wishes,

Enzo (E.L.)

Hello,

a detailed, well-taken picture of the marks struck to the reverse, would be most interesting.

The pin is not consistent to those mounted on originals, besides not being perfectly vertical as it should be.

The naval pilot's badge is a true minefield.

Besides being lucky enough to find one of the very few originals, it's better to find one of the very fine copies made by Rothe in the 60s-70s, instead of risking a lot of money for a deep delusion...

all the best,

Enzo (E.L.)

Hello,

the Bronzene Militärverdienstemedaille, in the Franz Joseph and in the Karl type as well, were made of gilt bronze, thus the "BRONZE" mark, struck to the medal's rim. The same if the medal was made of silvered bronze.

I don't remember this mark struck on FJ type medals though.

The mark "BRONZE" was struck on gilt or silver-plated medals to indicate them as having been made in non-precious metal, same as similarly-made orders, when struck with the "Sternchenpunze".

Hello,

I can say that the first of the two MMTO crosses, is a relatively early copy made by Rothe (see the "pointing down" star to the obverse centre medallion), with a wrong suspension ring; the second one, is a much later copy, made in Croatia between 2000 and 2005 ca.

Both have been struck with fake, "Sternchenpunze" for non-precious metal.

Best wishes,

Enzo (E.L.)

Hello,

I think, it should be a piece of typical French manufacture, from the first half of 20th Century, although the case looks quite modern.

The marks could possibly confirm my opinion.

Best wishes,

Enzo (E.L.)

Here, the pictures of the obverse and reverse, taken by me today.

The already provided pictures, were still those from the sale's catalogue:

Hello,

I need to warmly thank the colleague UnboxingCuba for the complete, interesting details about the origins of my cuban medal.

This is one of the great qualities of this fine collectors' forum. I've posted the question many years ago and it just needed some patience until a solution, interesting to all our community, arrived.

Now, this piece has its history and we all know something more about the interesting, complex history of Cuba's honour system.

To complete the panorama of the "Gran Amigo de Cuba" award, do pictures of the definitive design exist - or of the two  actually awarded pieces?

Many thanks again,

Enzo (E.L.)

3 hours ago, Kallarati Heroik said:

THE MEANING OF THIS TOPIC

The point is I want to see the way you keep them in frames, drawers, trays, cases, boxes, etc.

i not intend to ask you to show me the BANK VAULT or any other HIGH SECURITY PLACE.

I am very sorry if you understand like this.

I think that most of us posting replies, tried to put some humour, nothing to feel sorry about!

your question was an interesting one, in its true meaning.

In my case, I've always preserved my collection in velvet lined drawers so, protected from sunlight fading ribbons and easy to be examined witout opening boxes or frames.

Now, sorry to say, due to the difficult times we're all living through, I've decided to keep everything in the bank, after a thorough inventory and photography of all my pieces.

As soon as will have the time, I will prepare a photobook of my collection.

All the best,

E.L.

Well packed in tissue paper and stored in a bank vault...

Hello,

this medal bar appears as appropriate, with a nicely made cross of the Merit Order of the Republic, in the new type (more recent pieces are horribly made).

The Long Service Cross looks ok, same as the mission medal/cross.

The "Order of the Iron Crown" is a "self styled order" that fortunately is now forbidden for wear.

It's difficult to say whether a mission medal is an original or not, because they are always privately purchased, since our state mint discontinued the production of medals, besides those for military, naval and civil valour.

So, we can see medals of different manufacture, but legitimately purchased and mounted to the medal bar, from a very nice quality, to poor, cast and roughly finished pieces.

Best,

Enzo (E.L.)

Thank you Igor,

I've always liked the Virtuti Militari, besides my interest in the Imperial Austrian awards...

Hello,

many thanks for the comments.

Since I'm more into the Imperial Austrian orders and decorations, I'd be glad to know which state/authority adopted the "cross" or "snowflake" mark, struck to the pin of my Tamara Order.

The star looks like being made of silver and the centre medallion still shows an excellent gilding.

All the best,

Enzo (E.L.)

Thank you; very good photos and interesting details!

Enzo (E.L.)

Hello,

I would like to give my contribution to this interesting thread, posting a little group found some years ago, including the Order of Queen Tamara with its award document, the personal papers and a few correspondence from Georgia, of the man who received it, a German Gefreiter from the "Funkstation" in Tiflis (Tbilisi).

The star is still in its "uncleaned" condition, as it was found; the pin, is struck with a tiny "x".

All the best,

Enzo (E.L.)

Hello,

acutually, the Austrian Red Cross had no proper award, before 1914.

Best wishes,

Enzo (E.L.)

A nice collection, with very fine pieces, congratulations!

Enzo

As a conclusion, I've been able to take a picture of the "Ersatz-Urkunde", released by the Federal Republic of Germany, framed and at the wall, in my late father's study-room.

I think it could be considered as an interesting, rather uncommon document, especially for being given to a non-German.

The original "Urkunde", for what I know, should be somewhere in the desert's sands between Tobruk and Alamein...

Hello,

the world is strange...

this morning a german colleague, collector of orders and decorations, called me informing that the Gunzenhausen show is taking place, although with less exhibitors: does anyone know more about this curious thing?

6 minutes ago, BalkanCollector said:

Very interesting piece!

I guess you meant from 1917 to 1919?

You're perfectly right, noting the typing mistake that I've just corrected in my post, thank you!

Pierre Didio, was in Poland between 1919 and 1927, as stated in his detailed biography, available on the webpage I've quoted as a link.

Best wishes,

Enzo

Thank you, Gordon.

I took that picture myself (I was nearly 17 years old, then), on dad's return back home in Verona, from the award ceremony, at the Miltary Region Higher Command in Padua.