Hauptmann

Hi Charles,

Terrific photos! Agreed... never seem many photos of any of this being worn so this is very refreshing. Hoping more turns up that can be added to these. Great reference material.

On insignia... I've got some charts of insignia from WWII if that would help. "Might" have some post war but I'll have to go down in the bunker and dig through my library to see what I can come up with.

Dan

Wow Gents! Excellent job on this section so far! Love these pics... hope they keep coming. Joel, how I wish I'd known you'd find that 88 as I'd have absolutely love pics of the optics if they're still attached. Seems the hardest thing to get in pics of 88's... and I've seen tons of them... but they never seem to show the optics. Only one I ever got was one I took with my digital camera off a documentary on the TV in freeze frame! Came on it quite by accident and the only one I've ever seen.

I tried writing the staff at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and sure enough they have 88's but basically they said I'd have to come to take pics of whatever I wanted. Arrrrrgh! Hopefully next time we're in Maryland but that could be several years from now.

Hopefully more pics will show up at some point. Will continue to keep my fingers crossed. But boy oh boy how I'd love that puppy in my front (or back) yard. Kim might grumble a bit but c'est la guerre!

Keep up the great work!

Dan

Some amazing pieces here. Love the Belgian cut out, Jef!

At the risk of being off topic , I would like to add this coin that I got with a wonderful grouping to be shared with you all one day.

Although not a cut out like the others in this thread, the head of Napoleon now has a rather fine lid and uniform engraved into the coin surface...which appears to be patinated to a darker colour. To the reverse is a post attachment for a button hole mount. Looks to be welded on somehow. My understanding of world events at this time (1855) are saddly neglecting and I hope someone can shed a little light on this coin as well.

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Welcome aboard! Wow, great piece there! I know if I'd seen it in a shop, junk box, etc. I'd have grabbed it in a heartbeat. Great find there. Hope someone can shed some light on it.

Many thanks for sharing.

Dan

I would think about soaking the filter in wd40 or something before it rusts through... it seems to be on its way to falling apart.

Hi Chris,

I totally agree that something needs to be done. I'll make the recommendation again and see if I can somehow get something decided so it can be taken care of.

So as far as method of preservation... would soaking in wd40 be the best bet? Would that affect any of the other parts in a negative way? I'd want to go the best route as far as trying to preserve anything they have over there. I've tried to bring up preservation techniques with them before... sent them articles on same. Would love it if they'd send someone (and I'd even be more than willing to go if no one else was willing to take it on) to a conference or seminar on occassion to learn proper museum preservation techniques. But no idea if this is something they'll ever decide to do or not.

Dan

What do you think about these Belgian cut-out coins which were used as a patriotic badge?

The first one was a 10 cents coin from the reign of Leopold II, the second one was a 1 frank ( franc) coin used in the beginning of the First War.

Jef

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Hi Jef,

Wow... those are great! That one certainly looks like it took a lot of intricate workmanship to produce... cutting around the full inscription as well as the central design. Beautiful!

I'm so glad more are coming out of the woodwork. I think most numismatists would turn their noses up at such things but I really think they're great.

Thanks so much for sharing them.

Dan

Hi Gents,

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions and info so far. Will begin to check out a few of these. Not sure how he feels but in my mind I'd love to see him get them through official government channels. Anyone can go and buy them, but somehow in my mind it's important for it all to be official. If he's entitled to them... earned them, then I feel it's something the government should do. He served the country faithfully and with honor and like all such veterans deserves to be honored by his country in this way. Our just buying the medals and such is, again at least in my mind, just not the same.

But my mind is open and I'm willing to help him to the nth degree in an attempt to get whatever it is he's supposed to have. I think he deserves no less and it's the least I can do. He's a great guy and a true gentleman in every sense of the word. I really want to see him receive whatever is due him from his service with whatever official documentation comes with same. It's something he can proudly display and then eventually pass down in his family.

Looking forward to any more info and will get to work on all this right away.

Thanks again. I'll keep everyone posted on how things work out with this.

Dan

Hallo Dan,

I believe the Custer Battlefield with the locations of the dead were recorded after the event and if not mistaken, period pictures were taken showing the various location of the bodies

If so, the area is a well documented one, and has been subject to many arcealogical surveys, far be it so with the alleged Sgt York path, also the ground where Sgt. York was, has been subjected to much in the way of shell-fire and countless numbers of spent cartridges as well as other fragments must lie around with many being of the .45 model (whereas the Custer site would hold a few hundred assorted cartridge cases.)

Weather has to be taken into consideration western Euope is more wet than the Custer site, so more chance of items being found in the ground being in a more degraded condition.

And again the point arises about the gun, was it in fact kept, and if so, is it the actual gun, carrying all the original pieces of mechanism such as firing pin, extractor, etc, because if even one of these has been replaced then the gun can no longer be proved to be "the one" belonging to Sgt. York.

Kevin in Deva.

Hi Kevin,

You're quite correct re: the bodies and such at the Custer site. However, they did say there were up in the thousand or several thousand range re: how many shells and such they've recovered from the Custer site. Sadly I missed getting this one on tape/dvd. I haven't had time to check and see if I'd gotten it previously and had forgotten doing so. I generally tend to get such things that hold an interest for me, which the Custer battle has for most of my life. I'll try to see if I can find out the exact figures they mentioned in the program. Hopefully, if nothing else they'll repeat it soon as they usually do with most of their shows. I believe it was on the History Channel but again I'll have to double check to make sure.

I just tried checking on the web to see if they'd mentioned the number recovered but so far I can't find it. I wish I'd caught it in time yesterday to get it on disc or something. I did get the last 20 minutes or so on tape as I had to head out and wanted to finish it later. I'll try and do that later today and see if they mention the figure again.

Also totally agree with the York site not being documented as in the Custer case and it having seen untold combat not only during WWI but long before I'm sure and again after in WWII.

Also not sure about the gun being kept/saved. Chances are that he turned it back in upon leaving the service and it was reissued ad nauseum from that point on, perhaps even being lost or destroyed over time. "If" it was kept and "if" they can test fire and then compare it's cartridges with those from the site and "if" the original firing pin and other parts are indeed intact (which I agree may have been changed over at some point) then there's a possibility they could get matches. All slim chances but all possibilities as well.

It's also amazing how well preserved some items are even when recovered from the worst sites. Almost as if they're "meant" to be that way.

But then again some mysteries like this may never be completely solved. All we can do is try and at times be willing to admit that it's just not going to happen no matter how hard we try.

Anyhow if I manage to dig up that documentary and can quote their figures and other info I'll pop back into all this and let everyone know. Or perhaps if another member (knock on wood) managed to get it and can do so it would be much appreciated.

Nonetheless this is a fascinating discussion and I do hope much more info comes to light in the near future.

Thanks,

Dan

Hallo Gents

Nobody knows for sure what direction / path Sgt York followed, thats why its been so hard to pin it down, also what are the chances of .45 cases buried in the ground since WW1 being ballisticaly traceable any way, even ground found, shell cases, exibit large amounts of corrossion, the chance of matching up a case, found so, would be very hard, whereas the gun on the other hand, (providing it was all the original pieces such as ejector, and firing pin) would have been kept in far better conditions.

The best bet would be for somebody with a time-machine, a G.P.S, metal detector, (and a death-wish) and a good bullet proof vest to protect you while you go swanning around the search area

Kevin in Deva.

Hi Kevin,

Just wanted to pop in on this one. Happened to see a documentary on remains and artifacts found on the Custer Battlefield today. And they actually managed to do quite a number of amazing things. They had one researcher who compared all the shell casings that have been found to date and matched a number of them as having been fired from the same gun. In this way they could trace the various locations a particular gun was in on that day. They could also determine whether the guns were Army issue or likely used by the Indians... or in some cases Army issue pieces which were captured by the Indians during the battle and then turned on their former owners.

They did indeed manage to match at least one rifle in the museums collection to a group of cartridges found on the battlefield and hence proved that rifle was indeed used in the battle and they showed each location where it was fired that day!

So if they could determine this from cartridges buried since 1876 then I see no reason they could not do the same from those from WWI.

I'm also curious as to whether they have York's .45 and if they could test fire it in order to match up the cartridges and confirm that they were indeed fired by York on that day.

I hope more information comes out on this over time.

Dan

Hi all,

I have a friend who is a Vietnam Vet. I just learned tonight that he never received his Vietnam Service Medal... only the ribbon. I know this is not that uncommon but I'd love to see him get this medal and any others he might be entitled to. He received an honorable discharge when his service time was over. But he has no idea what, if any other medals or awards he'd be entitled to. He does know that his unit received the Presidential Unit Citation right after he left the service... and it was for service during the time he was with the unit. Would it make sense that he'd be entitled to that? How about the National Defense Service Medal? This is one that came to my mind... and also how about the Good Conduct Medal?

I've no idea how to go about A) finding out what he's entitled to and B) putting in for same. I know he'll have to do it but I'd like to get any information I can to help him to do this.

Hoping one of you may know the correct procedures and any help would be deeply appreciated. He's very proud of his service and very supportive of other Vets and those currently serving. But I'd very much like to see him get any medals or awards he has coming to him.

Many thanks!

Dan

Click here>>>>Red Baron build here.

Hi Stephen,

Many thanks... great shot! Images of Gerd Frobe in Those Magnificent Young Men In Their Flying Machines pop to mind... in the balloon ve must not vear our spiked helmets!!!!

And absolutely love that garage scene!

Hey, here's hoping you and your's and all the rest of the membership who celebrate have a terrific Thanksgiving and all that goes with it.

Dan

I'm not into numismatics buty I'd like to learn more too! Many many years ago - 19 actually - on my one and only trip to Forida from the Frozen North, I came across a guy selling jewellery made from "cut up" coins.

I particularly a gold or gold coloured coin whose central image, obverse I assume, was an Austrian eagle. He'd cut out the eagle and made pendant out of it. Very classy and I've always kicked myself that I didn't buy it, though it wasn't cheap.

He had several dozen types of coin from various places he was using, I assume all fairly common or he'd have lost money but a neat idea, I thought. (Sorry, sorry! I did say I wasn't a numismatist!)

Peter

Hi Peter,

Hey, as far as not being a numismatist... it's never too late to start! Ve ist alvays tryink to recruit new members!

Seriously, it's a wonderful hobby and as I say I've been enjoying it since I was about 6 or 7 years old. I believe that's when my folks gave me a Whitman coin collecting kit for Christmas... or my birthday... been so long I simply can't remember which. I still have the stuff. Basically it was a few Whitman albums which are cardstock with holes cut out for each coin... say Lincoln Cents for a particular set of years and mint marks and marked for same. The outside is generally covered in a blue paper which is marked with what the set is, etc. Then there were some coin tubes... plastic tubes for different denominations of coins. Coin tweezers to pick them up by the edge... a basic guide to coin collecting... stuff like that, along with a few coins to get you started... wheat back Lincoln cents and the like. But it was like rocket fuel to me. Over the years I've managed to accumulate at least a couple thousand pieces of currency (mostly foreign) and several thousand coins (again mostly foreign). Most are fairly common pieces which are examples of various types and denominations from all over and various periods of time. Many were purchased from dealer boxes which were always full of foreign coins... or from so called junk boxes from which I've managed to aquire a few treasures here and there. Plus buying outright from their main stocks. And on the currency the bulk of it has probably been from what are called job lots... large groupings which go for cheap so you can resell to make a bit on each item individually.

I've collected by year/mint mark for several different series. I've also collected by type and have a set I'm rather proud of which takes U.S. coins from half cents all the way up to dollar coins and then some gold although those consist of some U.S. and some foreign pieces. I've not yet been able to do a U.S. gold type collection but would love to at some point... if gold prices ever come down again.

Coins and currency... and even stamps, are minature works of art in many cases. They teach history, geography, politics... I could go on and on. It's a fascinating hobby, at least as much so as militaria. There's tons of references available, most well within the reach of anyone, even those on a limited budget.

Hope I can tempt you to give it a try. Doesn't take much, nor does it take a big investment. Alot of folks these days collect those commemorative state quarters. And hey, being in Canada you have a rich numismatic heretage... especially in circulating commems. Seems like every time they turn around up there they're putting out a new commemorative so there's tons to choose from. One Canadian series I like it their nickles which do indeed have some very nice circulating commemoratives in the bunch. There's one which has the V for victory on it and around the edge the dit dit dit dah more code used with that during the war. It's a terrific piece and one that I believe you can still get for very little money in the higher grades.

As for the cutouts... I'm kind of torn. They can be beautifully done. The ones I've seen the most have been bufallo nickles. They tend to do this with worn, common date examples. But I hate to see it done unless the original piece had already been holed in the past or something. On the one hand if enough of them are cut out then even some common pieces will begin to get harder to come by, especially for collectors on limited budgets. Pieces that are already damaged... well, not much you can hurt on them at that point. But the problem is that jewelers and such always need a steady supply so just keep cutting up more and more. It's a double edged sword. But chances are you'll probably still be able to find that Austrian eagle piece you liked. Try searching on Ebay and you may just luck out... or perhaps even on a search engine as there may be a jeweler selling just such an item.

Anyhow hope I've said something to tempt you to perhaps look a bit deeper into all this and maybe consider starting a collection. Believe me, you can do it for very little money so it wouldn't have to pull much away from your other interests. But you can easily put together a nice collection to be proud of with just a little effort. There's tons of reference and sales material available online and also in just about every bookstore I've ever been in. Look around a bit and see what types of items appeal to you and before you know it I bet you'll be on your way.

Dan

Greetings JIm,

Yes I have some images around here I could post later. The Red Baron Dragster in the diorama above is pretty much OOB. But here is one I tricked out...

Red Baron article

Hi Stephen,

Great job on this one! Wondered if you could show a closer view of the officer... looks terrific but would love to see more.

Thanks,

Dan

Reverse:

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Well, I'm afraid that's it for my Short Snorter collection... at least for now. I'm always on the lookout for more.

Again I hope these have been of interest. Also again many apologies if these are in the wrong section. If so, Gordon please feel free to transfer them wherever you think they might make a better fit.

Many thanks,

Dan

I'm not positive on this last one but I got it in a job lot from a dealers bin in the hopes that it was indeed a Short Snorter to add to my collection.

Obverse:

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Closeup of signatures:

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Reverse:

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This one I found particularly interesting. It's inscribed as being from members of the crew of the only ship in the Cyprian Navy! I believe it's called the S.S. Evagordas. There are signatures from several of the ships officers, parts of which I've found hard to read. Perhaps one of you can make them out a bit better.

Obverse:

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Hi all,

Hoping these are not considered to be for this section. Although not a coin or medallion they are related to the military and I had no idea of a better place to put them. I'm also hoping they're of interest and if accepted in this section that other members may also have examples they might consider posting.

It's my understanding that "Short Snorters" are pieces of currency that are signed by the crew of an aircraft, ship, etc. and whenever said crew members meet in a bar whoever does not have their "Short Snorter" is then obligated to buy a round for all the other crew present. Sort of the father of the "Challenge Coin".

I checked on Google and here's a link to all the pages I found which may be of interest:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=s...G=Google+Search

My first example is a Hawaii Silver Certificate dated 1935 and with a written date of 12/21/44.

Obverse:

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Reverse:

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Hi all,

Here's one I hoped might be of interest. Found it in a junk box many moons ago. Just couldn't resist it. It's a bit smaller than a U.S. dime and about half a thick.

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The first side has a bit of crud over some of the design but I'm loath to try to remove it. Always been a bit adverse to the cleaning of coins since it's hammered into us in every coin book and publication. The other side is much better in that respect.

I especially love the tiny representations of a golf ball on each side used to divide the inscription.

I've no idea if these are common or scarce or what if any value they may have. But I've yet to see another.

Dan

And the 'yawner' of the evening. Hungarian Trade Council's Union Medal for service to the Trade Union in Gold. Most of the gold wash to the star has flaked off but it is still present on the miniature. The badge came in two grades Gold and Silver. Gold was for 15 years of serivce in SZOT (HU Trade Councils Union) and the Silver is 10 years. The 15 year award came with 3000 HU forints bonus (1 1/2 months pay) and the silver came with 2000 HU forints.

Hi Charles,

Just fantastic! I can't get enough of your collection and love the fact that it's growing all the time. And even this one that you feel is a yawner... love it! And all the cases to boot! You know how I love cases!

I'm also in love with all the miniature devices they put on their ribbons. Even this last one... I'd be proud to have such in my (so far) tiny Hungarian collection. The miniature really is icing on the cake and adds so much to it. The medal is nice enough but the ribbon with mini and the case just make it shine in my eyes.

And even the smaller (assuming smaller... have mostly seem pics) badges just look terrific in their own cases. Soon as I have more $$'s coming in (hopefully soon... fingers crossed!) I definitely want to try and dive into the deeper end of the pool. I envy you being on the spot and able to find such terrific pieces and get so many great deals. Keep em' coming as I for one will never tire of them.

Dan

It was voided. Here's an intact one.[attachmentid=61656]

Commems were often used in jewelry. Here's an 1`861 Anniversary Thaler as a brooch.[attachmentid=61657]

Silver 20 pf. coins were often used as buttons.

Hi Tom,

First off, great pieces! Secondly, as I stated in my reply to Gordon I'm more familiar with voids on currency than on coins. Could you elaborate a bit? I'd assumed that it was done as a cutout for jewelry. But seems there's a deeper meaning here and I'm dying to learn more about it.

I've been active in numismatics since I was about seven years old and I just turned 44 this past August. But as evidenced here I still have much to learn.

Thanks,

Dan

Hi Hauptman,

First of all many thanks for posting your thread on the forum, its always interesting to read new topics.

The first coin is very interesting, and you`ll have to excuse my ignorance, but has it been voided or was this how it was designed?

Gordon.

Hi Gordon,

Many thanks for having me. I've actually been wanting to post on the coin forum for quite some time as I've had these as well as some other pieces that I thought might be of interest. Just a case of squeezing out the time these days. Hopefully I'll be able to pop on a few more before too long... perhaps over the weekend as it is a long one this time round.

I know about voiding on currency but didn't know they did the same with coins. Seems Tom knows so he's my next reply.

This is a great forum and being a long time numismatist I'm hoping I'll be able to contribute a bit more of interest. Will do my best. And of course I hope to learn even more which is always the best part.

Dan

It's a shame about the Zep, but the 1901 would be as desireable to me as the same coin in BU. There was some very nice jewelry made ferom German commems, and you can usuallyu pick it up cheap.

Hi Tom,

Many thanks! Guess I'd kinda expected some moans, sobbing, etc. when I showed these... although again I agree that they are still very beautiful pieces. And knowing I didn't have to pay an arm, leg and a couple of eyeballs for them certainly helps that feeling along.

And even the Zep... at least the hole is small and not ragged and is not in the central design. I know there are people who do repairs and some of their work is really quite nice. But I've never taken the leap. But on something like this I don't think it could hurt and if done really well would actually help. It will never be as desireable as a higher grade piece or one in the same grade without the damage. But I have noticed these last few years how even cull coins and those with damage have become much more in demand. I think because of new collectors being priced out of the market for the better pieces. Been there, done that!

Anyhow I'm glad I posted them as it's nice to know others appreciate them as much as I do.

Thanks,

Dan

Hi all,

I'm hoping for a Commander but don't have one yet. Hope no one minds but here's my contribution. I also have the Legionaire and mini (cased) but need the Officer level award as well. Also need a case for my Chief Commander but so far no luck.

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[attachmentid=61567]

I have no history on this or my Legionaire nor do I know the makers, etc. Here's my original post which includes the other Legionaire and the mini which are on page two:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10730

Terrific pieces gentlemen. I've always felt these are among the most beautiful awards our country has to offer.

Dan

Those are some coins with more than history behind them - those have Character! I love that Kaisers coin! That is not a damaged underdog thats a gem!

Well, thank you my friend! I'm very happy that there's more than one of me out there that feels that way. Like I say, I saw these and simply could not resist. In fact, if I remember correctly, I saw them and put them on hold. Got all the way home... just had to have them, scrounged my $$'s and drove all the way back (an hour each way!) and got them.

I've managed to get a few things like that over time. Another example is flattened coins. My grandmother had one in her collection which I now have. It was a quarter and was put on the tracks as the Presidential Train went through... I believe it was Wilson's as we're related to him. So now anytime I see one in a junk box I grab it as I know what they are.

Also coins that have bullet holes through them. My first was in a large lot of cull coins my father got for me in a trade. It's a buffalo nickel... I believe it's dated in the 30's but I'd have to check. So I always kind of imagined it was in the pocket of a gangster when he "got it" and someone kept it as a souvenir. Looks like it was hit by a .32 or .38... again it's been awhile since I took it out and looked at it. But other than the neat hold and the bending out on the exit side the coin looks normal with all details and such intact.

I also love some error coins. Managed to find a very nice South American (can't remember the country off hand) silver coin similar to our (U.S.) Liberty Seated Quarter with terrific doubling on it. Also a nice V (Liberty) Nickel with part of the date nearly missing due to die problems. A couple of Bust Halves with die cracks but that was fairly common on those. But they're still neat.

Very glad you like these... once you're back over in the states and you come visit our neck of the woods you'll have to remind me and you'll be able to see them in person.

Dan

Hi all,

I guess I've been exceptionally lucky with Kim. She's always been extremely supportive of my various hobbies and interests. But I've always been the same way with her's as well, which doesn't hurt. There have only been a couple of occassions where she's gotten a bit squeamish over a purchase but even then she grins and bears it.

And although she's done well on a few occassions in getting me things (my observer badge is an excellent example... she got it for like $16 as a repro and turns out it's an original! Here's the link to that one: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=7484 ) I love she generally doesn't know enough to feel she's getting me something good that I want, don't have and have it be a good deal to boot. So quite often she'll just say here's yay amount so you can get something you really want. Face it, on much of what we collect you have to really know what you're looking for. It's like in coins... sometimes a mint mark makes all the difference... and unless you know that you'll end up getting what you think is right but it's totally wrong.

But God bless her she really does try and she's made me a very happy man.

Plus she's not one to go for jewelry, fancy cloths and stuff like that. She gets the biggest kick out of traveling and so do I so that works well. And she likes to go to Sci-Fi conventions with her friends (and Nick and I when it's one we're intro'd in) so that's always a good thing to do for her. All in all we've worked things out quite well. What can I say... she's my life, my love, my best friend and all I could have dreamed of in a mate. Can't ask for more than that.

Dan