Great Dane

In his book "En allerhøjeste Paaskønnelse", Lars Stevnsborg lists recipients 1865-1912. I believe the list was created by meticulously going through the official sources (royal decrees etc.) as no official list exist. So there may still be small inaccuracies in his list. Like most court medals this medal was often part of the King's 'luggage' and to be handed out at his discretion to whomever he felt deserved it. So many times the award was not documented. If you send me the list of potential German recipients, I can cross-check. That's easier for me than going through the list which is ordered chronologically. /Michael

Great, thanks! /Michael

Right. Thanks for the clarification. You mention the regiment's history - is that available online?

Let me just say that it's getting harder and more expensive to find pieces for my collection If I remember correctly, gold versions were given to officers and silver versions to lower ranks, but the Dannebrog (in various classes) was given to the highest ranking officers instead of the medal. /Michael

Wow, that's much more information than I was able to dig up - I couldn't find any names. Not speaking Russian is a bit of an obstacle too... Thanks very much for this update. Much appreciated and a starting point for further digging for me. I know about the medal on the OMSD website. It's actually mine /Michael

Never too late for an answer. Any input is appreciated I have looked closely at every photo of Russian soldiers that have passed my way, but I have never seen anybody wear this medal. Especially the ribbon with the cross should at least be recognizable... but nothing... /Michael

I would estimate the value of your cross to be $2-300. Best price would be obtained if it was sold in Denmark, I think. If you add "up for auction" to that auction description, it would probably be more accurate... /Michael

Never ever heard of this, so quite interesting! Thanks. /Michael

I think it's "Brücken Kolonne" instead of "Kolonie"... I would translate "Ober" to something like "Senior" (as in Senior Sgt., Senior Engineer etc.). /Mike

Second battle of Ypres? Poison gas? Tell us, tell us...! /Michael

Ooohh... Beautiful A former Thies lot, if I'm not mistaken... Do you have any photos of him wearing this bar? P.S: Apologies to the OP for hijacking the thread /Michael I'm asking because I'm trying to get photos of the last decoration (the Golden Wedding Anniversary of King Chr. IX and Queen Louise) in wear for all the different recipients. /Mike

I think you're right. In my book of Elephant knights he is listed as "Albrecht Christian Adolf Karl Eugen". Must be an error, since his other first names are the same as your guy's. /Michael

Komtur, Who is the gentleman in the first photo in your first post? I know the file name indicates "Albert Prinz zu Schleswig-Hostein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg", but is it in fact "Albrecht Prinz zu Schleswig-Hostein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg"? The reason for my doubt is that I can't find any Albert as a recipient of the Danish Order of the Elephant whose breast star he seems to be wearing... /Michael

Could it be for the commemorative cross for the Schleswig-Holstein army for the 1848 Danish-Prussian war? (the one made of blackened iron) /Mike

Absolutely possible. The Dannebrog cross is the King Frederik IX version (1947-1972). Hard to see if it's silver or silvergilt from the picture. If silver it was awarded after 1952 when the Knight class was split in two. If silvergilt and no rosette on ribbon it was awarded 1947-1952. (Someone should make the front of the award face forward...) /Michael

I you have $76.000 to spare, eMedals in Canada has the Garter - allegedly - belonging to the 1st Duke for sale: Duke of Wellington's Garter /Mike

Yes, "well done" will probably fit You know more about this than me, but I have always been a bit surprised of how many (very) unofficial medals are allowed to be worn on Swedish medal bars (not talking about the one in question). I have often seen high ranking Swedish officers with medal bars with 12-14 medals, of which half were for Automobile clubs, Yacht clubs, Shooting associations etc. /Michael

Yes, it does look like Dragsted's silver stamp and a little Googling of the motto lead me to an article mentioning that "Actuosa Provolo" was the motto for Danish "Fugleværneforeningen Svalen" (bird protection association "The Swallow"). So Danish it seems to be, but I'm a bit surprised to see it mounted as an 'official' medal. /Mike

Sorry, never seen anything Danish even remotely similar... /Michael

Including foreigners? /Mike

Interesting indeed... I wonder how old stuff has to be to be handed over to the state? Different countries, different laws? If I find a gold coin from, say 1985, in my back yard can I keep it? /Michael

The second from the right is the Swedish "King Oscar II Silver Jubilee Commemorative Medal". It came in 3 versions - light blue (for royalty), dark blue (for lower ranks) and dark red (for Norwegians). /Michael

Could "FYRB" be short for "fyrbøter" (= stoker) ? /Mike

Not unheard of. I know of a dealer who usually multiplies the hammer price by 3 before putting the items on his own webshop. Whether it's a good strategy or not I don't know... the turnaround time for his items seems to be measured in years... /Mike

Pulled from Ebay by the seller due to "an error in the listing"... /Mike