gmvk

[art wall]

Here are some photos of a gmvk for sale. It seems to have the correct hallmark (938 W) and the same flaws on the inscription. Is this cross consistent with other wartime gmvks?

http://brocks.macrobatix.com/default.tpl?a...qskudatarq=8498

Edited October 20, 2007 by art wall

[saschaw]

I'm not an expert on those, but the cross looks good to me. Though, the case doesn't fit, does it? I'd expect another one with an GMVK, this one looks more like a REO's case ...

[art wall]

The case is okay. These came mostly with black cases, but some had red cases.

[Stogieman]

Case of issue was black. Not red.

Looks like the latest generation copy to me. Note the ridges that appear on the edges of the ?se. Note the lack of a clear cross at the top of the crown. In the absence of way better scans, I think you'd be nuts to pay 4K for this piece. In any event, the asking price is at least double the going rate in Germany.

Should match this exactly:

[Stogieman]

Reverse:

[Kapitular]

For me this piece is not ok! Regard the "half" cross above the crown or on the rear side the unsharp "E" and "R" of "VERDIENST". 20 years ago a had a same piece in my collection and it was definitely a fake.

Best regards

Kapitular

[art wall]

okay- Thanks!

[dond]

Isn't this a telltale sign?

[Stogieman]

Sorry, right cross, wrong scan folder. I have corrected my posts. kapitular was correct.

[dond]

Here is one on ebay today: http://cgi.ebay.de/Goldenes-Militaerverdie...1QQcmdZViewItem

great buy it now price- almost too good.

[dond]

front

[dond]

reverse. so is it a good deal or a pos?

[dond]

And another one by the same seller: http://cgi.ebay.de/Goldenes-Militaerverdie...1QQcmdZViewItem

He must have hit the jackpot......

[dond]

Or is it the same cross for sale again???

[Wild Card]

?Das Kreuz stammt von einer Ordensspange? This statement strikes me as a caveat to the effect - ?This is a wearing copy?.

[art wall]

Hello-

I purchased the orginal piece in question on this thread, as it was endorsed by Andreas S-I, and have come to the conclusion that it is a wartime award. I would be happy to hear debate regarding this issue, however, it appears to have all the small flaws seen on wartime pieces. Here are some of the dimensions

weight 16.85g

vertical length 37.75mm

horizontal length 37.75

arm width 15.75mm

tips of the arms thickness 1.75mm

central arm thickness 2.45mm

central disc diamter 16.4 mm

This example shows all the identical die characteristics of other wartime gmvks. Any dissention/debate would be welcome, as I would contend it would be impossible to replicate the minor exact flaws.

[art wall]

flaw at 11 oclock

[art wall]

flaw at 9 oclock

[art wall]

"dot" flaw at the termination of the scroll on the right

[art wall]

truncation of the scroll on the left

[art wall]

comparison of the inscription

[art wall]

another comparison of inscription. These comparisons are made with another piece endorsed by Andreas S-I as being a wartime original and have the identical die flaw characteristics. It is a far cry from the fakes seen today, which are very poor in comparison. To state that this is a fake would suggest that exact perfect copies can and are being made of any award, as the smallest details are identical.

[medalnet]

The cross is indeed a very good reproduction. Certainly cast from an original. As mentioned before, the comparison has to be perfect, except that the tooling flaws will get worse and worse towards the end of the war as seen in the "T" in "Verdienst".

If you look especially at the crown it is evident that your cross is cast from an original. The pebbling on those crown brackets are smaller then on the original and are therefore a clear sign of the normal shrinkage occurring during the casting process. Other signs apply. One has to always make sure that the piece is coined and not cased. Please check my web page at www.medalnet.net and read up on those few signs that will make it easier to determine whether a piece is coined or cased.

As I had mentioned before, one has to have this kind of cross in hand to be 100% sure. It looked very good on those initial photos and convinced even me enough to possibly order it with the right to return the piece.

You may download pictures of an early MVK in high resolution here:

MVK picture I

MVK picture II

Both files are bigger about 14.5 MB, so make sure your connection can handle it.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Case of issue was black. Not red.

Looks like the latest generation copy to me. Note the ridges that appear on the edges of the ?se. Note the lack of a clear cross at the top of the crown. In the absence of way better scans, I think you'd be nuts to pay 4K for this piece. In any event, the asking price is at least double the going rate in Germany.

 

Should match this exactly:

 

 

​Hi,

 

what can we call the going rate for 2015?

Thanks

Chris

[Streptile]

In the neighborhood of $2500 for the cross alone.

Also, there is no certainty about the correct color of the case. This is one of the great mysteries of Prussian collecting. Most agree that green or red can both be correct but I don't think black is considered correct.