MC Help asked

[Richard Gordon]

Hello all,

This would probably be my first post in this particular section and I'm hoping you chaps can help me out.

Although my collecting field is TR, I have often considered adding a GVR or GVIR MC to my collection. I'm not up on dealers for this sort of thing so if you could suggest any I would appreciate it.

I know of emedals in Canada but that's a no go for customs & excise etc, wading in with their charges to boot so I would prefer a dealer either UK or Europe based. I have seen dixonsmedals.co.uk and they have a few but I'd like to look around first to see what's out there.

I'm assumming ?500 is ballpark for one un-named? Named one obviously much more?

Appreciate any pointers you can give!

Rich

[Ed_Haynes]

Dixon is a fair place to start, there are others too. PM if you want URLs.

Any named MC has been self-named and there is, therefore, there's ample scope for faking (compare to a named EK1).

Decide whether you want:

-- a group = bigger money, but legit (but still, I think, underpriced for WWI awards) -- research possible only for WWII (usually)

-- WWI, WWII, or ??? -- a very nice Iraq MC group just sold, GBP 30K+

-- if WWII-era, the MCs are dated officially - what period do you want (will impacty prices)

Welcome to a new addiction!

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Richard

How about taking a look at the LIVERPOOL MEDALS WEBSITE:

http://www.liverpoolmedals.co.uk/FMPro?-db...t2.htm&-new

Kevin in Deva,

[Ed_Haynes]

Right, Kevin. If we are posting URLs, I'd add just one more, Phil Burman, the A-#1-100%-reliable dealer (to my experience):

http://www.military-medals.co.uk/index.html

And, then, for high-end stuff, DNW:

http://www.dnw.co.uk/dnw/medals/medalshome.htm

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Ed

I presumed posting links will help Richard because he stated he was mainly in TR and knowing that he probaly / possibly buys direct from Germany

Errr.......Its not against GMIC policy is it if so I can remove.

Kevin in Deva

[Ed_Haynes]

Hallo Ed

I presumed posting links will help Richard because he stated he was mainly in TR and knowing that he probaly / possibly buys direct from Germany

Errr.......Its not against GMIC policy is it if so I can remove.

Kevin in Deva

No, mate, I too hope links are OK. If not, we'll both get spanked.

Richard has, as far as I am concerned, now gotten the only links he needs for his excursion away from The Dark Side!

[Richard Gordon]

Ed/Kevin

Many thanks for the immediate response

This gives me a good starting point and I'll be looking through all the sites so far provided.

If you think of any more please do add them!

Thanks again

Rich

[Ed_Haynes]

Glad to help, Rich. Please feel free to ask as the great MC quest continues.

[Chris Boonzaier]

I would shell out the extra little bit for an MC with Trio...

The research pleasure you get will far outweigh the price difference between the group anf the unnamed single.

best

Chris

[Ed_Haynes]

I would shell out the extra little bit for an MC with Trio...

The research pleasure you get will far outweigh the price difference between the group anf the unnamed single.

best

Chris

Same here, Chris. Same here.

[Jacky]

Sometimes, one sees such a group on the informal trade-websites, like the dutch marktplaats "marketplace"

I have seen there a cased MC, wasn't too sure about it because of the blurry pictures.

There is now a group of an OBE, with 3 stars and both medals all for WWII

I have attached a picture,

if you're interested, please pm me and I will give you the link.

Kind regards,

Jacky

[Ed_Haynes]

Yes, a group like the one Jackly posted is pretty, but as it is most likely entirely unnamed it will have 0% research potential and will carry have a nagging doubt as to whether it is legitimate or fraudulently assembled.

Go for a nice WWI MC group (actually cheaper than a similar WWII group!). And go to a professional dealer.

[Riley1965]

From the front it looks like a must buy. But, It's what may be missing from the reverse of the medals that would keep me away from it unless I had pics of the reverse.

Doc

[Richard Gordon]

I would shell out the extra little bit for an MC with Trio...

The research pleasure you get will far outweigh the price difference between the group anf the unnamed single.

best

Chris

This was something I was debating with myself and yes I wholeheartedly agree. The problem is that any groups that I have seen have already been researched and priced accordingly so to find a 'virgin' trio/group seems to be a very difficult task!

WWI MC's seem to more in abundance than WWII... is there a reason for that?

[Ed_Haynes]

WWI MC's seem to more in abundance than WWII... is there a reason for that?

They were much more common in WWI than in WWII. Someplace (at home, I am now at work), I have the comparative numbers. Anyone care to drag out Abbot and Tamplin and answer this?

[deptfordboy]

Hehe Ed, I was just wondering that myself!

According to the Medal Yearbook, in WW1 37,000 were awarded, with 3,000 1st and 170 2nd bars, only 4 3rd bars.

In WW2, 11,000 were awarded, with 31 2nd bars.

Cheers

Gilbert

Edited February 15, 2007 by deptfordboy

[Ed_Haynes]

Thanks, Gilbert. Abbot and Tamplin (more reliable than MYB) show:

WWI - Services in the Field:

MC - 37,081

1st bar - 2,983

2nd bar - 168

3rd bar - 4

WWI - Services in Connection with the War:

MC - 23

1st bar - 1

2nd bar - 1

1920-39:

MC - 349

1st bar - 31

WWII:

MC - 10,386

1st bar - 482

2nd bar - 24

1947-79:

MC - 643

1st bar - 20

I don't have readily available the post-1979 awards, but darn few.

Edited February 14, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

Here's a nice MC group coming up at the next DNW auction (lot 90), to Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Malcolm, Royal Army Medical Corps. Estimate? ?2000-2500.

More mundane MC groups in the ?600 range (but one very nice two-bar WWI MC group).

Edited February 14, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Jacky]

thats a damn nice one!!

Even the OBE shimmers and shines towards you!!!

Wonderfull

*oops, bad word used without the intend to.. Should use my dictionary instead of making it collecting dust....*

Edited February 15, 2007 by Jacky