medalnet

Here is a picture of type c):

Thank you very much indeed.

An other question : the wonderful auction sale of the American Numismatic Society Collection conducted by Morton & Eden in October 2006 offered a rather similar breast commander"s cross, which differed by the fact that arms were enameled (n?77). Or is it an other type of award.

I wonder if any one has an idea of its relative rarity, since it does not come up for sale very often (or am I mistaken?)

Best regards

Well, there are four different designs in total.

a) same as your but not enemaled on the center awarded up to 1849

b) yours

c) so called Commander Star with golden rays. Similar to your design, but fully white enameled and golden rays inserted within those cross arms. This one was awarded between 1911 and 1918

d) Commander Star with crown. It is basically a 4 pointed star with a crown attached to the top of the star. These are rare.

This is the model was awarded from 1849 on. The particular piece arround the, maybe slightly before the century change.

It is the twin brother of:

Since you guys are on the topic of Hohenzollerns with swords. Check out what the postman delivered last week:

I've already got a nice one, but might be tempted to get another. However, I definitely want opinions on it before I contemplate the purchase. I've asked the seller if there are any markings on the lower arm - I'll post the reply when I get it. Were period HHOx's ever completely unmarked? Anyway, all opinions welcome.

Thanks!

Scott

The reverse picture you are showing shows a light indentation on the lower cross arm. This normally indicated punch marks. I would be surprised if this one has no markings.

Not only nice for pre-1916, but for the duration of the war also! Hollow gold and with oaks in addition to being "named" isn't something that'll be easy to upgrade...if ever. Did you get the award document with this also?

Congratulieren! and another one for the oaks !

Les

Unfortunately not.

I've never seen a PlM oakleaf. Thanks for you reply

I am sure you have, Red Eagle Oak leafs are exactly the same then PlM oak leafs.

Andreas, are there maker marks on the oakleaves?

No, and I have never seen any.

Nice medal Andreas. Here is a photo of General von Quast

Christophe

Super, I was looking all over the place to find one better than the one I have on my page right now. Do you mind if I would use it for my web page?

Andreas

Check it out, probably the nicest Pour le M?rite from before 1916 I have seen:

More at: www.medalnet.net

Pour le M?rite with oak leaf awarded to General von Quast

Does anybody know what this is?

Well. THAT would have saved several of us many hours of wasted time.

Here may be another clue to the identity of the recipient. Obviously he also received the officer cross fo the Phillip order.

Second possibility: An original star without swords changed in old times by a jeweller to a star with X on rings with "Saxon" X. And today (after the 22.4.2005) someone said "Oooops" and replaced them with "Prussian" X

Yes

Question, please. I am assuming that the swords on the first piece (right over left) are proper.

Is this assumption correct

That is it!

Is it not possible that the only thing fake about the "fake" is the swords? Not that that it makes anything right.

You are very close

The cross is indeed a very good reproduction. Certainly cast from an original. As mentioned before, the comparison has to be perfect, except that the tooling flaws will get worse and worse towards the end of the war as seen in the "T" in "Verdienst".

If you look especially at the crown it is evident that your cross is cast from an original. The pebbling on those crown brackets are smaller then on the original and are therefore a clear sign of the normal shrinkage occurring during the casting process. Other signs apply. One has to always make sure that the piece is coined and not cased. Please check my web page at www.medalnet.net and read up on those few signs that will make it easier to determine whether a piece is coined or cased.

As I had mentioned before, one has to have this kind of cross in hand to be 100% sure. It looked very good on those initial photos and convinced even me enough to possibly order it with the right to return the piece.

You may download pictures of an early MVK in high resolution here:

Both files are bigger about 14.5 MB, so make sure your connection can handle it.

...and in any case the second part of those military recipients listed in the 1914 orders roll:

I do appreciate your help very much. I do have the list of recipients from 1914, but had no luck matching them myself. Maybe he was not listed in even that list anymore.

Thanks again

Andreas