Hauptmann

Medal For Humane Action (Berlin Airlift):

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I saw a movie when I was younger... the title escapes me. But it seemed to revolve around the Berlin Airlift and it made a great impression on me... seeing how the pilots and crews would drop candy and supplies to the people in the city, especially the children. And the enormous risk they took on each flight with several crashes. Another simply designed medal which represents so much to so many.

Navy Occupation Service medal:

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Army Occupation Service medal with Germany and Japan clasps:

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WWII Victory medal:

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This and the other WWII medals I got in honor of both our relatives who fought in that conflict.

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal:

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A good bit more detail on the eagle this time. Just can't get enough of those beautiful eagles!

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal:

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Boy did they ever squeeze a few campaigns into this one! And there's that lovely eagle again!

American Campaign medal:

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Another terrific eagle which will look very familiar to any fellow numismatists out there... albeit rather worn on this example.

American Defense Service medal:

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I love the symbolism here with Lady Liberty fending off all our enemies.

China Service medal:

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As with many of the U.S. medals from this period I love this eagle. Quite a few of them were designed by some of our greatest coin designers.

WWI Victory medal:

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I got this one in honor of Kim's Grandfather Dr. Ferdinand Benjamin Peik who served as a Private during the Great War. We don't own his original medals but they are still held by the family along with his uniforms, etc.

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And update on this. I just discovered that he had actually become a First Lieutenant in the Dental Officers Reserve Corps.

China Relief medal (Navy and Marine Corps):

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Yet another of the modern restrikes.

Dan, great examples of repro soviet medals

Iam acctuly scared to post some of mine, most of mine I bought from Nota Bene so they must fine, but the rest scared to think

Order of Victory

Hi Vic,

Hey, as George Carlin said (wise man that one!) "Don't be scared... it's just a beard!" Seriously, I was a bit apprehensive on these as I was fair sure and knew on the Kiev... but I figure it this way. If something turns out to be a copy, as long as I have dirt in it I'm not worried. And, most importantly... it's something others can then learn from. And that... is very important. If everyone runs around and sees nothing but originals then where are we when a copy pops up. Whenever I had an original... and could pick up a copy or copies of the same item for next to nothing I would. Then I'd use that to educate others in the differences, etc. so next time they'd be better equipped to handle themselves out in the jungle.

So go ahead... post away! Unless of course it's something you think is a copy and you have a small fortune in it and by confirming it's a copy it will cause you to go jump off the local water tower. Then perhaps it's best to just live the fantasy.

Dan

The Kiev medal is also a fake. The only variation of the Kiev medal is with a ring part of the medal.

Yours is seperatly soldered.

regards Andreas

Hi Andreas,

Sorry, actually I knew on that one... meant to state it in the post. Just trying to do too many things at one time.

Many thanks!

Dan

Hi all,

Here's my collection of U.S. medals.

Civil War:

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This is of course one of the modern strikes and not an original issue piece. I got it in honor of both my wife Kim's and my own relatives who fought in that conflict.

I eventually hope to get the companion Navy and USMC medal. I'd also love to get one of the Indian Wars medals as well.

Hi all,

I'd forgotten about this one. Nothing special... just a West German Bundeswehr. But ran across it tonight and thought I'd post it. I may also have a few other things laying about but will have to do some digging tomorrow as it's about time for bed now.

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Dan

Hi all,

Just pulled this off the shelf while looking for other goodies to post and though... why not?

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Dan

Hi all,

Here's a photo my great grandparents kept in an honored place in their home after coming to America from Germany.

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Alot of nice baubles being worn there.

Dan

Well, in a way I guess that's what I meant. They could be modern (ie. not original issue), and worth a fraction of the value of originals ... especially the Odessa and Sebastopol which are worth a fair penny now days.

Hi Darrell,

Well, if post war strikes/issues as opposed to out and out copies (read fakes) that's a bit better in my book. Granted... still not nearly as good as original wartime issues... but I'd certainly feel a bit better about them. But again I'm not gonna jump off the water tower on any of them. Have had them forever and a day and have very little in the whole lot so not catastrophic. And as they were so early on in my collecting I figure I'm lucky to have done as well as I have over time... especially not having the red bible until so late in the game.

Mucho thanks!

Dan

ahhh .. got me ... I meant the Konigsberg .. (saw the Budapest just above it)

Hi Darrell,

Yeah, I kinda figured. But it struck me as so funny and I just had to have a bit of fun with it myself before all was said and done.

Well, looks like I've got quite a few originals to get yet... but am sure they'll turn up over time. I'm not in any rush.

Many thanks for the confirmation on them my friend.

Dan

Dan,

Afraid there are a few "bad" ones as you say:

a. Odessa + Sebastopol --> recent copies or repros

b. Caucasus, Polar Regions --> recent copies or repros

c. Budapest and Vienna --> recent copies or repros

Hi Darrell,

Well, that's a trick... I don't even have a Budapest! ROFL

Here you've got me with copies I don't even own yet! And now for your next trick!

You've no idea how badly I needed to laugh... it's been one of those days. Well worth posting and even confirming I have some copies.

So you're positive the ones with the heavy gold wash or plate are not the last types as described in the red bible? Had kind of hoped but again not a biggie either way. To be honest I think several in this series are ugly ducklings and I'd almost hate to pay the prices some of them run. Although I deeply appreciate the sacrifice that went into each and every one of them. Just not the most attractive medals they put out.

But part of the series and part of history. These will do for display until I can manage to get real ones.

Thanks again for helping to cheer up my day. Work was an absolute bear and haven't been feeling all that great since last night. But as they say... laughter is the best medicine.

Dan

Yes...that '95 is super! The only thing that I see wrong with that buckle is that it isn't in MY collection!

hahahaha....

I love that one!

Super buckle!

Rob

Hi Rob,

Many thanks! Okay... tell ya what. Bids start at $5,000 U.S.

Seriously though... you could have absolutely knocked me over with a feather. Far as I knew it was just another WWI buckle, perhaps for an NCO and worth maybe $40 to $50 tops.

Very glad I posted it as otherwise I would have never known. Hey, a case in point of how important this buckle section is. Sure hope we keep it as who knows how many other such goodies will pop out of the woodwork.

Thanks again,

Dan

Hi all,

Well, here are my very meagre contributions to this thread. As much as I love the study of space and The Space Race I have managed to acquire only two pieces... one of which is a copy. I hope to add more to my collection in the future.

First a space pin... no idea what is says except for the first word... "Glory", or what it's for. One of the first such Soviet pins I ever purchased.

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And a copy of the Pilot Cosmonaut Of The USSR:

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If anyone has an original of that one please post it as I'm sure we'd all love to see it.

Dan

The Liberation Of Campaign Medals

I still need The Liberation of Belgrade.

The Liberation of Warsaw:

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I need the Liberation of Prague.

Well, that's it until I can add those I still need to the collection.

Dan

The Capture of Berlin:

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The Capture of Vienna:

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This is the third one I have with the thick gold wash.