Bob

And now for a rather large documented group... belonging to a Kico Kotani, a person that participated in WWII and later on part of the Albanian Armed Forces. The group ranges from 1953 to 2004 (!!!) and has more documents than medals so perhaps can "complete" it myself. First up, some kind of academic paper with what appears to be some aspects deliberately cut out. Elvis, perhaps you can shed a light on this? Will be posting scans of all the documents at a later stage. Hopefully some forum friends can help translate so we get a picture of what Mr Kotani actually did: 5-2-1953 - Certificate nr 14788 - Medaljen e Trimerise 5-2-1953 - Certificate nr 35836 - Medaljen e Clirimit 10-?-1953 - Certificate nr 2 (!!!) - Medal 10 Vjetori i Ushtrire 21-6-1954 - Dekoron, dekret 1888 - Urdherin Ylli i Kuq 2nd class 13-7-1959 - Dekoron, dekret 2939 - Urdherin e Skenderbeut 3rd class 1-7-1965 - Dekoron, dekret 4025 - Urdherin e Sherbimit Ushterak 3rd class 4-11-1968 - unkown document for Flete Lavderimi 6-11-1969 - Dekoron, dekret 4535 - Urdherin e Sherbimit Ushterak 2nd class 30-6-1970 - unkown document for Flet-Lavderimi 24-4-1972 - unkown document for Flete Lavderimi 14-7-1972 - Certificate for title "Kuader Shembullor" (nr order: 1094) 16-6-1977 - unkown document for Flete Lavderimi 7-7-1978 - unkown document 16-10-1981 - Order 40 Vjetori i ppsh 6-5-1986 - unkown document for Flete Nderi 29-?-2004 - document (with table medal) for 60 years liberation? More pics (lots!) later

For SB caretakers, I am always interested in acquiring more SB's for my collection: - Low numbered (i.e. <200) screwback SB's - Gigher number DOCUMENTED SB's - Documented SB as part of larger documented group - SB awardee documents without the actual SB Shoot me a private message in case you are interested in a transaction.

I think the weights are mentioned earlier in this thread. Unfortunately all my SB's are in a safe place where I can't easily access them (fortunately they keep themselves company in a fairly large group:))

thanks

An interesting set in the upcoming morton and eden auction... 4 slava's awarded to one person

Hello Artan, Have taken the Sunday afternoon to again look closely through your 2 books. Triggers many thoughts / questions (and compliments) which I will share one by one over time. First, in part one on page 55 you have a German imperial medal bar with an Albanian medal 1914 arrival in Durres of Prince Wied. Would it be possible for you to show the scan of this bar here in the right area? The imperial German collectors appear to be quite good at figuring out who things ma have been awarded to and it would be interesting - if lucky - to also find this out for this bar. Thanks, Bob

2 great books - more pictures / variations / etc. then one can see anywhere else. And I do mean LOTS of pictures! Also some variations / awards which I've not seen before and interesting to see modern Albanian awards (although not necessarily beautiful).

What are the numbers?

Wonderful! Can we see a close up, and also reverse?

Just saw this, it is written by a forum member! http://www.albaniancorner.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=651 Can hardly wait to get it! :)

Just saw this, it is written by a forum member! http://www.albaniancorner.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=651 Can hardly wait to get it! :)

I have heard Hero Star nr 1 is on the market... for 150K USD... A lot of money, but in this case it may actually be worth it

Here's a thought after rereading this thread. There's a range of Uighuir polar stars without a mintmark: 1) just a manufacturing error... or more to it? a manufacturing error over such a long range of polar stars seems odd to me 2) now, there's a small range (or rather, a sub-range within the range without a mintmark) where manually a mintmark has been added... 1710-1776 based on known examples... would there really be an operator who thought "oh, we have been forgetting to put mintmarks on for several hundred polar stars, i'll put them on for a few" This is an interesting mystery which hopefully some day will be resolved... In any case, I think the manual mintmarks are a sub-type within the "no mintmark" type.

I'll ask the seller, could be East German. Probably early '70s.

Yep, she confirme to me as well via eBay message that she's putting the group back up as one. I insisted on going via eBay because it is a more secure way of bidding. Time to put the new lising on my watch list:)

Pics from another collector with foreigner award in his collection. http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2010/post-679-126980257521.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2010/post-679-126980258357.jpg "the enamel is real,old and original "hot enamel".I have it in my collection for a very long time already,c.3o-4o years" and he also mentioned he got it while travelling 30-40 years ago either in CSSR, DDR or Hungary (he can't remember). This is the one pictured also in Herfurth's catalogue.

Love these documents, have many in my collection as well - unfortunately i don't understand mongolian :unsure:

thick XXV, just like in the pics i have from another collector who has one of these "foreign" ones in his collection

the ring is uncut

Took the risk, quality is comparable with a regular one. And the enamel is quite well done (very smooth on the surface for instance where i'd have expected a bump from orange to the XXV letters).