Garth Thompson

Looks to be a US Navy full dress cocked hat and full dress shoulder boards for a Medical Lt. Commander. This type of uniform is no longer used. I'm not sure of the date but I believe these items were not used after WW2. The value would be between $200 - $300.

First off I'll say I am not an imperial collector and my knowledge of imperial pieces is pretty skimpy. Now I ran across this armband and thought it was an exceptionally attractive piece. It is 14" stretched out by 3" wide. It is done in green silk with a gray cloth underside. The edge is applied gold bullion and the EK is embroidered with gold bullion edges. What is it?? Garth

Thank you for the very informative answers to my questions. Best regards, Garth

Most interesting information, thank you. Is there collector interest in these armbands in France and are the two veteran armbands for distinctly different organizations? Thanks again, Garth

Picture #2 I really don't have a clue on these two. Another collector thought they might be for veteran organizations.

I would like a little help in IDing these French armbands. Thank you in advance, Garth Picture #1 I think these two are WW1 staff officer but am not sure.

Thanks Rick. Is there any collector value or interest in these type of soviet medals? Garth

Reverse view

I bought these soviet medals years ago and have long since forgotten what they are. Any help identifying them would be greatly appreciated. Garth

Paul, A similar situation exists with pre-WW1 US campaign medals, the ones given out for the Civil War throught the Philipine Insurrection except you can tell the differance by the numbering on the medal rim. The first strikes carry a number that reads No.xxxx, these are tracable. The second striking reads MNo.xxxx, which means mint number. The third striking was done under government contract by independant makers, these will have plain munbers with no prefix. The last official strikings were done by the US Mint in the 1950's and are of a high quality and not numbered. Most of what you see on ebay today are done by a company named GRACo and are of a very low quality. Garth

Paul, A similar situatio exists with pre-WW1 US campaign medals, the ones given out for the Civil War throught the Philipine Insurrection except you can tell the differance by the numbering on the medal rim. The first strikes carry a number that reads No.xxxx, these are tracable. The second striking reads MNo.xxxx, which means mint number. The third striking was done under government contract by independant makers, these will have plain munbers with no prefix. The last official strikings were done by the US Mint in the 1950's and are of a high quality and not numbered. Most of what you see on ebay today are done by a company named GRACo and are of a very low quality. Garth

Thanks for the information, Mate.

Paul, The white ribboned medal is for the campaign in Mexico 1862-63. The oldest ones I have would be the St. Helena 1857 then the 1859 Italian Campaign. Neither are particullarly rare. Garth

Finally Nichan Iftikhar (Tunisia) Chevalier 1st Class and Ouissam Alaouite (Marocco) Chevalier

While not actually French government awards these could be given to French officials and personnel in the colonies. These are carried in a 1955 catalog of French and colonial medals I have. Left: Medal commerating the reign of the ruler of Laos Right: Medal commerating the reign of the ruler of Cambodia

Commemorative Medal for Lebanon 1926 2nd version. I always thought this was one of the most unusual and attractive of the post WW1 medals.

Medal for Dahomey 1892. This one was actually quite hard to find for some reason.

Mexico 1862-63

War of 1870-71 Commerative type 2 Defenders of Belfort one of the 1st engravings by Bartholdi.

Tonkin Medal 1885 (army model) Medal for China 1900-01

Medal for Marocco with MAROC bar 1913 Medal for Syria/Cilicia and Levant 1918-1921 and 1923-1932 Medal for the Orient 1926

Madagascar 1st expedition 1883/86 and the 2nd 1895

Group with the Croix de Guerre of Zaire

Medaille Militaire group Indochina/North Africa.

Legion of Honor group to a WW2/Indochina/North Africa veteran. The Croix de Guerre is a 1939.