VtwinVince

Does anyone have an award total for the FAM for the colonies?

D'oh, saw it, wasn't paying attention.

It's a very high relief strike, but with the suspension of a Spangenstueck. Any hallmarks?

Alright, screenshots are pretty hard to read, and I don't place much stock in what happens at WAF. Anyway, let me reiterate, in 50 years of collecting I've never seen a period photograph of this thing in wear. Someone please produce the photographic evidence, otherwise.....

Hmm, I've never seen this TWM with wreath being worn, who were the alleged recipients of this thing?

Yup, completely ridiculous riff on an Eiserner Halbmond.

Nice one Rick, I would agree it's an NCO's bar. Are you sure that isn't some sort of Red Cross award at the end?

My eyesight is terrible, but I'm guessing it's 1908 and a colonial award. Colonial material has skyrocketed in price in Germany, but even still that's a pretty retarded price.

Very interesting photo, my uncle managed to fool his examiner when he re-entered the Luftwaffe in 1935, as he suffered from 'Schielauge' and was blind in one eye. This did not stop him from being a successful Gruppenkommandeur later during the war.

So both of these are from Schaumburg, but different coinages?

D'oh, senility alert! Is this the right one?

LOL, that is pretty funny, he should have teamed up with that Princess von Anhalt who engaged in similar nonsense.

Here is my favourite, a KO2 by Wagner with the 60 Year Anniversary button, with a very elaborate ribbon for wear under the collar. I believe about 20 of these were awarded. Unfortunately the recipient is unknown, but I do know that he also received the RAO3.

More fantastic material Solomon. Here is a silver VM.

Here's a KO4 with Geneva Cross, which I believe dates to about 1880. It's unmarked, as it should be, and note the earlier, slightly smaller case with the early closure.

I've seen the Meybauer example with cruciform back plate, a known variant.

I'm sceptical, do you have a photo with the disc removed?

Thanks Rick, here is another unusual one, an Austrian KO3 in silver with hallmarks on the ring.

Cool thread, looks like some heavy artillery has already come out. I have a few grades of the order, here is the somewhat lowly Crown Order Medal. I know you Prussophiles will say 'this isn't a grade of the order', and you're right, it was associated with the order and given at the personal behest of the Kaiser, not through the usual channels. .

Yup, the arts and sciences stuff.

Those Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha items are being discussed over at SDA, apparently they are fakes.

I also 'earned' a lifetime ban over at that so-called forum, so please enlighten me.

Some members expressed an interest in seeing this item. Sorry for the lousy pictures. According to Trevor Ristow this ribbon dates to around 1900, making it probably rarer than the actual cross. I'd be interested to hear what people have to say as to the intent of these single sided crosses. I've heard everything from funeral pillow items to theatrical pieces. I have seen photos pre-1945 of these in wear by recipients, so that was definitely done in period. Overall the quality of the cross is quite nice, with hand chasing of the lettering and nice detail to the eagles. The blue is darker than what you would expect on award pieces. This cross came out of a GI's souvenir album, so there are traces of glue on the back of the ribbon.

Here is my unmarked Meybauer example from the estate of Leutnant Strey for comparison.

Of course a very interesting personality, especially in connection with Stalag Luft III.