DutchBoy

WOW, touched a nerve did it? Right on!

Guys, Quite a few people jumped on the bandwagon with Mongolian items. The folks that are left are the true die-hards like yourselves, and you are the people doing 90% of the work in this field. Don't get discouraged, there are more people reading these posts than you think.

I hope this attitude doesn't spread to other countries. If the Kaiser's descendants want their medals back, many many members here will be in a lot of trouble!

I stand corrected. I thought the coat of arms still had the crown, but it indeed doesn't. Thanks.

A nice bar with lots of character! Cool stuff

WOW! That is so much better than the models I used to make as a kid out of discarded toilet roll cores and shampoo bottles! (Athough that was really fun!) I haven't built a serious model for many years...maybe this will inspire me to be a little more creative than I have been of late....

Ed, Could you clarify something about that law as you understand it? You mention a ban on "gallantry awards." Does that mean that service medals and the like will still be legal to sell and own?

Jim, I think everyone on the forum understands your logic...the question is: why doesn't the Congress understand that?? If someone doesn't want their or their ancestors' medals, let us collectors take care of them and cherish and research them. This is simply a move to win some political traction with a minority of voters and pressure groups...no one there (or in the US at large) really cares about this issue at all is my guess. For the handful of freaks who want to buy a medal and wear it to pass it off as his own (as this bill seems to address) that is NOT a major problem and those people will surely be exposed to the ridicule of their communities.

I think this new order is somewhat inspired by Poland's other military order, the Virtuti Militari (which was initially called the name of this new order I believe). The similaritiesrun deeper when you consider that this new order is essentially the peace-time version of the Virtuti Militari. As for the crown, several former communist states have reverted to using old royal symbology in their coat of arms (e.g. Russia, Romania, Bulgaria) and also on their orders and medals. It may be a little strange using royal symbols in a republic, especially to us living in countries with a monarchic system of government, but crowns are a potent symbol of sovereignty and convey a sense of history.

Well done!! A new order to be proud of and another very nice looking Polish one! And with the careful awarding criteria the Poles have, this order will remain a highly sought-after and well-earned award.

One word: Moronic! To think that this law will have any useful purpose is insane. And what will be the penalty for violating this law?? On second thought, maybe this is a clever ploy by the Drug Enforcement Agency to get drug dealers to abandon their current occupations and go to the less bad but equally illegal awards trade. I can picture the scene now: Drug-turned-awards dealer opens his coat and goes: "Psst! Hey man, wanna score some Silver Stars??" And then you hear some radio talk in the distance: "He said the magic words: MOVE IN AND APPREHEND SUSPECT!!" That will make one heck of a segment on "Cops!" SERIOUSLY

I keep my nicer items in special wooden display cases and a glass display case. For most of my items however I keep them in so-called Riker boxes. They're cheap but keep your medals safe. It is also easy to stack them and put them away in a cupboard when you're not using them.

Hi Stephan, You may want to look into buying the following book if you're serious about collecting South African badges: THE MILITARY BADGES AND INSIGNIA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA by Colin R. Owen. pm me if you want one, I know a dealer who sells it.

I am stunned and speechless (and that doesn't happen very often!) HOLY CR*P!!

Some awesome heroic actions! Whatever one thinks about the war in Iraq, heroism knows no politics. Those are some brave guys.

I don't know about the web, but the new book "World Orders of Knighthood and Merit" shows all of the modern Serbian orders. Many of them are carry-overs from communist Yugoslavia, including the Order of the Flag, but with a different coat of arms.

Beautiful collection James!! It's awesome to have your relatives' groups here too!

Cool! Grew up there too, in Pretoria....small world! p.s. was the late PW Botha related to Louis Botha? Tried to find out on the web but no luck. It's quite a common name, so maybe not.

Hi Chris, That's a very interesting guy from a very interesting period in South African history. Do you have any connections to South Africa? I remember in one of my threads you mentioning that your uncle had a John Chard medal...

Amen to that! Matthijs.

Hi Gordon, My Hungarian collection is quite small and all the items I have are already posted. But with regards to that book you mention, I bought one about 6 months ago on eBay (where they go for $35). If you have those other two you are certainly not going to need this one. It is a nice little book, and it has quite a few pictures of Austro-Hungarian, Communist Hungarian, and modern Hungarian ODM, and as a starting reference it is useful to a point. Not reading that language is a problem of course, so it has limited value to me. If you could pick one up for lets say $20 I'd say go for it, otherwise not so much. Great collection!! Matt.

Hi James, Thanks for the compliments! What you see is pretty much what I have though, apart from a few doubles which I haven't shown. I must say your Honoris Crux group is outstanding!! I used to own several Rhodesian medals but I sold them all a few years ago, along with many items from other African countries, and converted them into Soviet orders. I do regret letting them go! Thanks for posting your website!

My first Soviet piece was a run of the mill Red Star back in 2002, but it's been a favourite of mine ever since. In the 2,000,000 serial range, it was still awarded in WW2. Cost me around $20 on eBay.

Simply fascinating! South West Africa is not often discussed but it has a very interesting history! Thanks!

Order of Henry the Lion, all the way!!