Hauptmann

Sorry for the delay in getting this. Been out of state and out of town and only now getting caught up on computer work. Anyhow hope this does the trick.

Dan

Any ideas on the date range this one would fall into? Using the green bible I'm thinking 1944/45 range? But hoping one of you can perhaps narrow things down a bit. Also is this a good candidate for research?

Will keep my fingers crossed.

Dan

Nice. It's indeed an MZPP order. Die errors seem to be not that uncommon on Red Stars.

Hi Ferdinand. Whew! So glad it's good! I was 99% positive but there was just that little nagging doubt. So good to have it confirmed!

Thanks so much for setting my mind at ease on this one.

Dan

Well that's it. Hope I'm right and it's okay and I did alright on this one.

Dan

Try as I might I couldn't get the mint mark any clearer than this with the scanner.

The toning from where the screwback covered the back also looks correct.

Hi all. Went over and picked up the Order in Fargo on Monday. It originally came with a bunch of Enfield rifle parts... there's got to be a story with that. Out of an auction from what I understand. Sure wish I'd been there and seen if there were any more such goodies mixed in with the other bits.

Anyhow it kind of threw me when I first laid eyes on it. The red enameling is definitely hot enamel, the central medallion detailed and correct from what I could/can tell. The back looks a bit rough but I'd looked at tons of others on here before going to get it and seen others that looked similar. The mint mark and serial number looks correct. I'm assuming it's one of the MVPP's (Moskovskiy Zavod Platino Pribor) with the smaller mint mark and odd looking serial number engraving.

But on first inspection it had what looked like silver runover onto the red enamel around the edges of the arms of the star. I asked the owners permission to try carefully seeing if any of it could be removed with a pocket knife and he had no problem... offering his knife to do so. Sure enough it was silver paint! Go figure! I've no earthly idea why someone would have wanted to put any silver paint on one of these. I managed to pretty much get it all off and then it looked much better. I also had my red and green bibles with me and nothing else really raised any red alerts/Kirk to the bridge feelings so I decided to go for it. The price was definitely right and not only did I save a few bucks by picking it up but the gentleman who was selling it insisted on taking $4 less... so I figured I couldn't go far wrong with it.

Upon getting home and using my loop... which I felt stupid not having taken with me in the first place I saw what appears to be a mint error on the medallion which you'll see in the upper part of the inscription above the head and rifle of the soldier. A small section of the inner border is mssing and it seems to have affected the letters to a small degree. Perhaps some grease filled in part of the die or something.

Anyhow I hope I did okay with this one. I kind of feel that I'm getting way too paranoid in checking out these potential purchases and feel this is probably just fine. But in this day and age I guess one can never be too careful. But as always opinions are most welcome.

And now... without further ado... the picture show:

I just realized you can see just a bit of the silver paint on the left base of the upper arm of the star.

My latest... a gift from my better half.

Serial number: 2107536

The pics are the sellers... I'll scan and post better pics once I have it in hand.

This makes number eight and counting. I'll have to do a family shot at some point but hoping they'll breed just a bit more and hit the big number ten before too much longer.

Dan

Hi!

If you are still in need of a 'Hero of Motherhood', there is a splendid example on offer right now at Liverpool Medals.

It be a cool £225! I think this a good price really; they also have a document for the same Order, but not this particular example being offered though.

Hi Bifter,

Sorry for the late reply to this but somehow it fell through the cracks and I didn't see it till now. I deeply appreciate the info but sadly a bit out of my range for now. But I do still hope to get a real one some day.

Thanks!

Dan

My latest addition... on it's way from California and should be here tonight or tomorrow morning.

Hoping to redo my riker case of the collection and then will redo a group pic to show where I'm at at the moment.

Dan

And here is the one I found online:

Would deeply appreciate any or all info.

Many thanks!

Dan

As far as the letters this is what I found:

The "K.S.H.T.W.S.S.T." symbol on a headstone indicates that the person had completed the crytic degrees of the York Rite and was a "Royal Arch Mason" in the York Rite Degrees of Freemasonry.

This from:

http://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061103162007AArqsIQ

Keep in mind this looks TONS better in person. I never seem able to have the time to experiment and fiddle with my scanner settings and such but it has much more of a real gold look to it... onyx for the black parts of the cross, etc. It's extremely well made... with the head of the knight having a hinge on it so it can basically nod his head a bit forward and back, and also the visor has some movement as well. It's just amazingly well made for what it is.

Hi all,

Was over in Devils Lake these last few days staying at a very nice lakefront resort with my wife Kim in order to spend more time with her. I was out of state for a couple of weeks and out of town for most of the week before I left. She works for Schwans and her route is in DL so she's away all week and I generally only see her on weekends. Was a good chance to spend some extra time with her.

Anyhow I hit a few antique shops, an auction and a coin shop while I was over there. Tried a second coin shop three times but sadly the owner seemed more intro'd in just about anything but being there to do business as on the first day I was told she only stayed open till 3 p.m. Needless to say I was there a bit after 3:00 as I'd not known this. Plus hours and phone numbers are not posted so there's no way to tell. I came back the second day but due to things beyond my control didn't get there till about ten till 3. She was in the office counting out another customers coins (to fill books) and so didn't have time for little ole me. She said to come back the next day (my last in town) earlier than before. So I was there at about 12:40 p.m. and of course she was out to lunch. So I returned at 2 p.m. only to find out from the tailor next door that she'd decided to go get her hair done and left early! Must be nice to run a business and not have to be concerned about being there to serve customers. I guess she makes far too much money doing whatever it is she does... which doesn't seem to be running the coin shop on a regular basis.

Anyhow I did manage to pick up three items at the other coin shop which was literally within walking distance of the one run by the phantom owner. The gent there was extremely nice, conversational and we got on famously. Methinks I've finally found a good coin shop to spend time (and my money) at after searching up here for several years now.

One item it to add to one of my many other hobbies... horology... in my case the collecting and study of pocket watches, clocks, etc. It is a salesman's watch case for a 16 size pocket watch. For those who don't know this is a case which has a crystal on both sides so not only the face of the watch but also it's movement can be viewed. It's called a salesman's case as this was a popular way for watch sellers to show off their wares. I also got an 1780 1 Reale coin in very nice condition. But to top it all off I got an absolutely beautiful pocket watch fob. When I saw it I assumed it was some fraternal or masonic organization... Knights of something or other due to the design and knight's helmet motif.

So once I got home and did some research I believe I've nailed it down as a fob for the Knight's of Pythias. The only similar example (mine has more on it... see comparison pics) runs $596.00!!!! I about fell off my chair when I saw that! I've no idea if this is an accurate price or not but it sure would be nice.

So hoping to find more information on it. The metal does indeed appear to be gold but no idea of karat, etc., and I've been unable to find any marks on it so far to indicate same. But this is what is in the description for the nearly identical one I found online:

Vintage 14k Gold 3D Knight of Pythias Masonic Watch Fob

Tremendous vintage 14k yellow gold and onyx 3D Knights of Pythias watch gob with garnet cross

Color: Yellow Condition: Pre-Owned

Gram Weight: 19.80 Size: 25mm x 43mm

Anyhow without further ado... here are the pics. First I'll show mine and then the one that goes with the above description.

Mine:

Here's the definition of the Latin motto:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_hoc_signo_vinces

Thanks guys! Just what I was hoping to hear.

I owe ya'll a pizza the size of a planet!

Thanks again!!!!

Dan

Thanks guys!!!! Deeply appreciate the help. A friend was actually the one considering this and I said to hold on before doing anything till I could get it vetted. I only took a quick glance so to be honest hadn't even seen the number on the reverse. Not being near enough of an expert in such things I felt it better to go to the true experts. And I'm so glad (as always!) that I did.

Mucho thanks!!!!

I owe ya'll a pizza the size of a planet!

Dan

Hi all,

Any info appreciated on this one. Good or bad? Possible idea of value if good?

Many thanks!

Dan

Thanks in advance!

Dan

Hi all,

Need some help on these. Are they good or bad and if good from what period and also an approximate idea of value would be a huge help. Also what is the difference between the two? Any info appreciated.

Hi all,

I could use some help on these. Need to know if they are good or bad. If good I could use some idea of value. I don't have them in hand and not sure I can get a black light test on the ribbon... but happy to try if the rest looks good. Even if it's an original 1957 that would be okay. Just need to know for sure.

Many thanks in advance.

Dan

No problem. The '57 BWB you posted in # 55 appears to be the same reverse hardware. Probably from Souval as well?

Hi Darrell,

Actually that seems to be the feeling of others. See my original post here:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=38024

I was extremely lucky to get this one. It was from an estate sale and resold on Ebay to another collector. It had been listed as a WWI and that's what the other collector purchased it as. How he could mistake it for a WWI with the pictures clearly showing that it wasn't is beyond me. However, upon receiving it he decided he didn't want it as it was a 57 and not WWI so he sent it back to the seller and I purchased it from him.

Dan :cheers: