Great Dane

Is that the Order of the German Eagle around his neck? If so, was probably awarded during his service in Germany - right after it was instituted in 1937.

Beautiful bar! I know a non-German could receive the 3 first medals on there, but could a foreigner also receive the 4th (its name eludes me...)?

How do you come to the conclusion of 1932-37? The "J S" mark was used from 1932 but the "three towers" hallmark clearly says 1940. Of course you never know what belongs together - the photo, the silver (with hallmarks) and the engraving of the Zeppelin... but the silver piece was made in 1940.

Not to mention the many rules for the combination of the two... ?

That all makes sense... thanks a lot, Laurentius! I tried to read the statutes and their amendments, but got lost... not for the faint of heart ?

You gentlemen were very helpful with my earlier question regarding the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, so I'm calling on your expertise again. I'm researching a guy (not the same as earlier) who was awarded the Prussian Order of the Crown 4th class with swords in 1866 (I'm guessing for the Prussian-Austrian war). In 1890 he gets the 3rd class with swords on the ring and later he is promoted to the 2nd class with swords on the ring. Do the swords on the ring symbolize that he was awarded the lower (4th) class with swords? In "Deutscher Ordens Almanach 1908-09" his list of awards shows both the 4th class with swords and the 2nd class with swords on the ring. Does that mean that he would be wearing both? Wouldn't the 'swords on the ring' represent the lower awards with swords, so no need to list that one separately?

Here is the photo from that catalog BTW - Hammer price was 2.800 DM

Is this the one you're referring to: Klenau auction 156 (lot 53). December 1978. "St. Cyrill- und Methodius-Orden. Ordenskreuz. Silber vergoldet. 75 x 75 mm. Am Ring. Klenau 4435. Äusserst seltenes, altes Exemplar" (Same object could be in several Klenau auctions if it didn't sell...)

To me the first word looks like "Consul"...

And here is a recap in English (feel free to point out any spelling errors...) http://www.omsd.dk/Articles/en/article_en.aspx?id=20190504-1

Excellent. Before I started this thread I didn't even know he got the 4th class. Thanks a lot! /Michael

"are allowed..."? OK, now I'm a little confused... So what is NOT allowed (for the MoH)? Apart from wearing it if you didn't earn it, of course...

His name is Hucke. I don't know his first name... it is never mentioned in any of the official records where I found him (including Handbuch für das Deutsche Reich 1874 to 1890). He ended up as "Wirchlicher Geheimer Ober-Regierungs-Rath" and worked in the Reich-Postamt (before then the Post- und Telegraphen Verwaltung). He probably died around 1900. If you can find him, that would be awesome.

Are US citizens allowed to own unnamed ones?

Interesting... then I'll have to figure out when he was awarded the 4th class... time for more research ? Thanks.

That was my suspicion ? Thanks Andreas. /Michael

I have a question for you experts in German Imperial awards. I'm researching a guy (German civilian) who was awarded the Prussian Red Eagle order 3. class with bow followed by 2. class with oakleaves. Not an expert on German Imperial orders, but I seem to have read on this forum that there were specific 'rules' when transitioning through classes (like the "if you were awarded class x with device Y, the next one up would be class A with device B" sort of thing)...? His 2 awards were at least 7 years apart (if the rules apply to awards for seniority). Would the move from 3. class with bow to 2. class with oakleaves be such a 'standard' transition? Thanks.

A thorough explanation that still leaves room for research - thanks Glenn

I'm still trying to understand the fundamental reason behind this.... Not so much who was what and why, but what was the main reason for someone to be promoted to "XYZ with the rank of ABC"? Why not just promote the man to ABC? Was it an "in-between" rank (maybe the privileges of ABC, but the responsibilities of XYZ)? Germany was not the only army (armies) to do this, so it must have been a widespread practice (and thus a common reasoning behind it).

I believe what you show is the "Commemorative Medal of H.R.H. Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's Investiture as Crown Prince". We are discussing the coronation medals.

A stereo magnifier may be overkill, but I paid $35 for my used one so it was a steal... only wish I could take photos through it. It is great for detecting fakes (die cracks., renaming etc.). As mentioned, my mobile magnifier (10X) is one of those 'flip out' jeweler's magnifiers (with light and UV light). Small enough to fit in any pocket. I put a lot of time into researching the market before choosing it and could conclude "don't buy too cheap". Some of the cheaper magnifiers with a big lens are useless because you have to center the eye within the small middle area to get a distortion-free image (and get cross-eyed in the process...). Ironically these cheap types are actually sold in optometrist shops to people who really need quality magnifiers in their daily life for reading etc...

I'm not an expert in this medal (or the battalions/regiments), so maybe a more knowledgeable member can weigh in?

I have a bar that belonged to Prince Axel of Denmark and it has the 1911 Rama VI coronation medal. But since he was royalty, he may have been one of the exceptions that Micke mentions.

Not much help perhaps, but in "Canada General Service Medal Roll 1866-70", he is listed as "Thos. J. Everett" and entitled to the 1870 bar.

I highly recommend a "stereo magnifier"... Not to be confused with a stereo microscope which it can look like at first glance, but the latter has much higher magnification which you don't need... I bought a used one and it is worth every penny. Something like the photo below. For 'on the road' I use a small flip-out jeweler's magnifier. My stereo magnifier has a 20X and 40X magnification - the small flip-out is 10X (with built-in LED light)