Vatjan

Hi Igor, Nice groups. What are the numbers of the medals for Charles Wain and Ch. Sto. G.D.High. Could you also give some more info on the serial number series for medals to British soldiers? I know for exemple that the French received in April 1915, 100 3rd class crosses, numbers 16701-16800, and 400 4th class crosses, numbers 126651-127050. Does these list exist for British also? Thanks Jan

Or somebody's finger got in the way, ouch!!!

Submarine badge

All Navy badges

Some badges

And the last of the orders

still more to come

nice, aren't they??

more

Other angle

I paid a visit yesterday yo the Army Museum in Brussels, and took a few pix that I thought might interest you guys. See also: Russian Collection Army Museum Brussels Jan

I would not take these oddball numbers so lightly, except for the Polar Star Orders, the serial number chronology is very consistent with Mongolian Orders. As a side note I think one day, with more info available, we will find the answer for the OPS's in the mixing of T2's and T3. (I've just recently seen an Type 2 awarded in 1945, finishing the stock???) These eggs maybe issued for 40 years onward, but I'm quite convinced they were issued chronologically Just my 2 cents Jan

Second a matching pair WeWon doc and medal. I might be paranoid but aren't there traces of bleaching around the serial number's entry? Doesn't the callligraphy seem different for the SN and the rest of the doc?

I'm not saying that there are fakes on the market, there might be, I do not know. But with the prices skyrocketing, I think we should, in some specific cases, start asking ourselves some questions. Two recent exemples from our favourite auction site. One group to the same person: 2 orders and a bunch of medals. The Combat Service Order SN 2871, filled in by hand in the order booklet, awarded in 1977. Now I know anything goes in Mongolia, but according to the existing listings the 2700 mark was reached in 1971, a year in which many many orders were given for the 50th anniv of the MPR. More over simple mathematics give an average of 140 CSO's a year, which would mean a SN in the 3000's. So a handwritten entry together with a chronologically suspicious serial number.... we should be cautious Careful, I'm not saying the dealer is bad, we've all done business with him and all have been pleased with his services, I think.

Hi Ed, Outlandish fakes they may be, outrageously prices they were not, so I thought I'd take the chance. Thanks for the help, here are the reverses

back

front

inside

Just wanted to show you this

And the second one

I'm just back from a very exhausting tour trough Central Asia and Afghanistan, 6 countries in 7 days, aarhg. Anyway, i did not have the time, as you can well imagine to do much shopping, though I did find these in Afghanistan. Anyone, Ed, know what these are ? I'd be really grateful

Thanks for the help Rick, I really appreciate it Jan

If it is given by the Ministry of Defence, then it is not really an unofficial medal, is it?

Avarga means Champion

Notice the back on the 4000-range flatbacks is really flat, on these early ones, the backs are slightly uneven, the plot thickens, dear Watson Jan