Great Dane

Just noticed the auction result (scroll down to 'past lots) Most of those unnamed orders sold for 5-10 times the already inflated estimate. Unbelievable... /Mike

Claudius, you seem to have nailed the story behind it :-) I can just add that they came in various versions (apart from the 1940/1945 versions), such as cuff links, lapel pins, 'chained' pins etc. They also came in sterling silver with red enamel (like this one) or in gold with red and white enamel. /Michael

The knight versions of this order actually are smaller than normal (25mm diameter is typical). Many auction houses erroneously list them as "prinzen size" or even as being miniatures. /Michael

I don't think it's a Legion d'Honneur on that seal. It seems to have 4 cross arm instead of 5. /Michael

Exactly. At least the Chilean order has a 'wear pattern' that will make it somewhat recognizable from the auction photos and thus leave a fragile photo/paper provenance trail. Why would anyone pay a premium for the other un-named (generic) lots...? Hopefully one of the other family members will step up and buy the lot to complete what they already own. /Michael

I agree. Those lots without name (i.e. the orders from Norway, Denmark, Chile etc.) will totally lose their provenance when sold individually. Here is a link to the auction description: Christie's /Michael

Excellent! Thanks, Paul. That's in line with his other scientific awards then. One more mystery solved :-) /Michael

Gentlemen, I saw a couple of posts complaining about the Forum being too quiet, so I thought I might as well post this question. I have a group belonging to a guy, who - according to his biography - received some additional medals. One of them is called "Prince Albert I of Monaco's Commemorative Medal 1953". Does anybody know which medal that might be? I tried to Google it, but no luck... Bear in mind that the guy was a scientist and received a lot of non-wearable "table medals", so this could also be a non-wearable medal. Thanks in advance for any input, /Michael

Lot 460 ended at 1300 Euros,

Just got an email from them. Got my lots (not Lundstrom related). Got the result list as well. Do you need any lot prices? /Michael

Has the result been posted? I see nothing yet at http://www.benemerenti.de/php/de_kat_ergebnislisten.php ... /Michael

Hi, No. 3: Sweden - Oscar II Jubilee commemorative medal 1897. Came in 3 versions: light blue, dark blue or red enamel (he probably got the version wth light blue enamel). /Michael

Like I said, the lists are inaccurate and incomplete (not surprising given the chaos that followed the earthquake). Note that crews on ships are not listed individually (except for captains on navy ships). /Michael

And for completion, here is the list of German recipients of the earthquake medal (not the commemorative version). If someone is one both lists, you could rule him out for your group (but as I said, the list are quite inaccurate and incomplete). /Michael

Hi Andreas, Looking at the ribbon, I can see that it is not the "Messina earthquake medal" but the "Messina earthquake commemorative medal". Correct? List of recipients for both medals were listed in "Gazzetta Ufficiale del Regno d'Italia". Those lists seem to be incomplete, though... Note that when those lists mention a navy ship, they will list the captain separately, but the general opinion is that everyone on board got the medal listed with the ship. This is a list (from Gazzetta) of the German recipients of the Commemorative medal: /Michael

Holy smoke! That's quite a collection! Does the 'photo a venir' represent types you don't have yet? Thanks for sharing /Michael

When I had to put my entire collection in container storage for 8 months, I wrapped each item (singles, groups, stars etc) in that thin acid-free paper that stores use to wrap, say, china in when you buy it. It's easy to do - just cut or tear off a piece big enough to wrap the item. For groups I wrapped each one individually and then the entire group. I don't trust plastic sleeves or bubble-wrap for long-time storage... /Michael

Wow, great piece and great that you could have it confirmed, so it wouldn't be just another one of those "I guess we'll never know..." /Michael

Gentlemen, Before temperaments run wild, I'll just point out one thing: Remember that the 66% figure means that the bidder has bid on 6 items of which 4 (i.e. 66%) was for sale by this seller. It doesn't mean that the bidder has bid on 66% of all the items the seller has had for sale. /Michael

Thanks Paul, that's good news. It is still an impressive collection. To prove my point, this is the difference between the original (to the left) and the copy (to the right): 1. Low quality lions - especially the head and mane 2. Sometimes a heart is missing (not always) 3. A grainy track close to the rim 4. Low quality oak leaves 5. Font used is too big There is a rumour here that a specific medal mounter had a 'habit' of swapping the original with a copy when soldiers had their medals mounted. Since most soldiers are not medal experts, it would go unnoticed. I really hope it's only a rumour... I have also seen this medal (i.e. the copy) being offered 'made to measure', so you could have any mission engraved that you feel you 'earned'. What has the world come to...? /Michael

Aaahh... interesting... especially for me... Too bad that not all copies are marked as such. Lot 92-95 are clearly copies that wouldn't fool anyone who has seen the real medal. /Michael

Sorry, wrong post...

Yes, it is quite impressive. It is believed that he wore these miniatures at more private occasions - probably masonic (note the prominent placement of the Swedish (masonic) Order of Carl XIII at the top). /Michael

Could it be that the explanation is the simple that kings (and other royalty) were exempt from normal rules and statutes and sometimes they just wanted something to fill the chest (preferably from favorite countries)? I guess that is pretty much what you're hinting at, and it sounds plausible to me. /Michael

Paul, I was ready to buy your explanation... Frederik VII was known to like orders and medals (rumour has it that he on several occasions tried to get awarded the Danish medal for lifesaving by inventing various heroic deeds, but the requests were always turned down). But then I found another photo. It's (one of) his miniatures and take a look at the left side - two versions of the Legion d'Honneur (one slightly bigger than the other). For some strange reason they are showing the reverse, but that might be to not insult anybody as you mentioned. /Michael