Hauptmann

Hi Charles,

I love that cased badge!!!! Beautiful... but again I tend to be a sucker for stuff in cases.

Hey, in case you or anyone else is intro'd, I posted those coins I mentioned in post #132.

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1285...mp;#entry124500

Figured it would be better to put in the coin section as here it might be deemed .

Dan

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I've always had a soft spot in my heart for underdogs and also I happen to love the uniform/helmet the Kaiser wears on the one coin and have always loved Zeppelins. Until I found these the prices on these two tended to be out of my range. But when I saw these I just knew I had to rescue them. I don't remember what I paid for the Kaiser but don't believe it was very much... perhaps $10 or $15 at the most. The Zepp is marked $60 (got both of these quite a number of years ago) for an undamaged one in similar condition but this one was $25 and I believe I got it knocked down to around $15 or thereabouts.

Just couldn't resist and even with their damage I still love them.

Dan

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Hi all,

Charles actually posted something along these lines in the Soviet section in regards to a Hungarian award he has. It got me to thinking about these two pieces I have. Instead of posting in his post which may have been considered I thought it better to put them here. Hope they might be of interest to someone.

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Why is it that the most rare are the ones to suffer....

Hi Charles,

Trust me... it happens in all collectible hobbies. Numismatics for instance. I've seen so many potentially rare coins that have ended up in junk boxes or used for scrap gold or silver because they were mistreated over the years. On the one hand, if they have a slight ding, dent or light scratches on them and are sufficiently rare then they still have value to some collectors. Some are so rare one is lucky to get one in any condition and it's treasured regardless of any damage or imperfection. Whereas common dates and such are only considered collectible in the higher grades.

I've picked up a few over time. One is a German silver coin with the eagle on one side and the Graf Zeppelin on the other. Another is one with Kaiser Wilhelm and his wife, him in his dress uniform with the large eagle atop his pickelhaube. Both are rather pricey in half way decent grades. But the Zep coin had been holed at some point... the Kaiser piece was actually cut out, probably both to make some form of jewelry out of them. But I got them at very good prices and I also tend to love underdogs.

Needless to say I see such things as rare dates in otherwise high grade with a hole in them or a series of bad scratches or gouges and I could nearly break down and cry. But then again, if more had survived they'd not be as rare and desireable. It's the attrician such things suffer that bring on rareties and high prices... at least in most cases. The old case of supply and demand.

Also, terrific groups and a fantastic collection. I too would love to be able to obtain one or more such groups, especially as complete as these are. They are a beautiful sight to behold. Here's hoping you're bless with many more in the years to come. But save a few for the rest of us! I suspect that along with myself there are several others who are hooked or sorely tempted to become hooked after seeing your great collection. Keep up the good work!

Dan

I'm ROFL... good one Ralph! Thanks for the laugh. Great box... betting there are not too many of those floating around out there.

Dan

Yes, definitely Franz von Papen.

If it is then he was definitely having a bad day. Just doesn't look like that great a pic at the very least.

Dan

Hi Christophe,

This all got me to thinking about other living WWI vets and vets from other wars in general... not just French but from all over. Found a couple of interesting things that I thought I'd pass on:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surviving_vet..._of_World_War_I

http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/How_many_World_Wa...are_still_alive

Dan

Is that Von Pappen?

I don't think that's Von Pappen. Looks a bit like him but don't think it is. Again if it is it would probably be mentioned on the back of the card.

Dan

And one of Hitler and Goebbels (not sure who the chap on Hitler's right is) in Stuttgart 1933.

Cheers,

Pat

Pat, if it's anyone of any importance it should say something about him on the back of the card. He looks somewhat familiar but can't be sure at this point. If it comes to mind I'll pop on and let you know but perhaps one of the other members will chime in on this one.

Dan

A belated thanks Dan for the great information! The translation website is very helpful. Are these fairly common then? I got them as a gift so I don't think they are too rare. I will show the fronts of a couple more here. The first up is a fairly famous pic of Hitler with the SA in Braunschweig 1931.

Cheers,

Pat

Hi Pat,

No problem. Happy to have pitched in a bit. Keep an eye out for the full books... they're on Ebay from time to time and show up in other places as well. Some are rarer than others but speaking from my experience of having the AH volume and the two volume Olympia set they're well worth having complete with all the cards.

Dan

Geez .. what's going to be more valuable in 20 years? The medals or the "Out of Print" books?

Hey, just try to find much less buy some of John Angolia's early books! Methinks the books have been a good investment for some time. Only problem with mine is that I've read them so much and they're so dog eared that they'll not grab the top prices. But I've loved them and devoured them and they've been very entertaining and educational for so many years that I've already gained so much... anything else would be icing on the cake. But I fear I'll be dead and gone before they'll get sold... unless my son Nick decides to jump into all this whole hog.

Dan

Hi Paul,

Glad to help. Thanks to Rick (was hoping you'd come to the rescue on this one. Mucho thanks Rick! ) it looks like a confirmation of what I'd said with additional info.

So Rick, does this indeed strike you as being for Customs or would it be more for their version of the IRS?

In any even a very nice piece which will look terrific on display.

Dan

I received this document. The document is rather large... 8 1/4 x about 12 1/2 inches.

What was it awarded for??

It was an Ebay win for 9 Euro!

Who's signature is this?

Thanks for looking!

Hi Paul,

I'm thinking it's a promotion document raising this Beamter from Steueranwarter to Steuerdiatar... not sure what the rank levels are. A Beamter as you probably know is an "official"... in this case like a civil servant. I believe the first rank is "Tax Candidate"... the second is "Tax ?"... can't figure out the second part of the word.

Steuer has two meanings I can find depending upon whether it's used in the masculine or feminine... in the masculine it's for steering... as it's used in some German naval rates... Obersteuermann and such. Like a coxswain, etc. But in the feminine it means "tax".

Anyhow someone far more knowledgeable will probably jump in and shoot this down but that's the best I can do. Sadly I have a book which gives rank tables for quite a number of TR organizations... but although Customs is shown in one photo and they do have a few paragraphs covering it in brief there was no table of ranks to go with it. Not sure if this is for customs (Zollgrenschutz) as I don't see that mentioned in the document... although that script is murder on the eyes. A few words pop out here and there and the rest I have to strain to figure out.

Here's hoping someone a bit more fluent in German takes a look and either confirms or refutes this. In any event I hope it helps.

But it is a very neat looking piece and would look fantastic mounted and framed, etc... perhaps with the appropriate insignia if they can be found.

Dan

Serial Number closeup:

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This is another I'd like to get researched someday.

Anyhow please post any you have... would love to see them.

Dan

Hi all,

Here's my sole Duplicate issue award. I'd love to see others as I really love this area of Soviet collecting and hope to add more over time.

Obverse:

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Reverse:

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Combat (Obverse):

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Combat (Reverse 1):

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Combat (Reverse 2):

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I hope to get them both researched some day.

Dan

Hi all,

Here's my contribution to the thread... one each of the Variation 1 Variation 3:

Bravery (Obverse):

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Bravery (Reverse 1):

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Bravery (Reverse 2):

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Dan,

That would be GREAT!!! I have a file on my computer with pics of HSU recipients.

Doc

Hi Doc & Vic,

Sadly I only have one... at least for now. It's another one of Jahn but again shows quite clearly his award of the Held der DDR and the HSU:

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I'll keep looking but for now that's all I think I have. Would love to see others post DDR HSU recipients if they have them... and also those from other countries. Perhaps a side thread would be the best way of doing this but either way it would be great to have a pictorial record of those non Soviets who were awarded the HSU over the years.

Dan

Wow DOC, I never relised any Germans got the HSU

Order of Victory

Hi Vic,

I couldn't find any for the others so far... but believe I have some in one of my references down in my library. Will have to go down to the bunker a bit later and dig them out. If I do have some more shots I'll post them in a bit.

But here's one of Sigmund Jahn in uniform:

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And in later years in civies:

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Have to run for a bit but will check on more when I get back.

Dan

This is a detailed view of the flag of the 51th Regiment of the French Army. The complete post card has been presented in post N? 19 . Hope it is usefull.

Eduardo

Hi Eduardo,

Many thanks! I've got Kim working on the Avatar by the way.

Dan

This one is more accurate in its design ( no swas on wreath) but a poor quality casting.

Hi Gordon,

Yeah, if both melded their best details together we'd be in trouble as that would be a bit scarier.

Thanks for sharing that one.

Dan