Prussian Militar Ehrenzeichen 1st Klasse

[Ferg1]

Hi Guys, I would value yours comments on this Prussian military honour award 1st class. It came from the dissolution of the famous Colonel Dodkin collection several years ago. I believe that fewer of these were awarded than the militar verdienskreuz (O/Rs PLM) This one looks to be slightly different in centre details . The actual cross is solid silver and has three different markings on the ring! One being Fr another maybe Z or N and the other not readable but maybe a silver purity mark. It looks to be manufactured from a smooth armed red eagle order 4th class which I suppose would make it an early piece? REO glatte arme 1854-1879 ,Militar Ehrenzeichen 1864-1918 . This came in a bag of mixed Prussian medals another of which was a Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen kreuz first type (1810-1820) yes, I could not believe it either.The lot went for almost nothing !!! Your comments are welcome.

[Chris Boonzaier]

If I remember correctly, there should be almost unreadably thin stamps on the edges of the cross with silver content etc. I cannot remember there being stamps on the ring...(I am talking for the 100% no questions asked pieces)

best

Chris

[medalnet]

Certainly not an officially made piece. But certainly very nicely made. I assume some kind of contemporary replacement piece

Edited June 25, 2008 by medalnet

[Les]

Look at the reverse side. The letters on top (KRIEGS) and the lower ones (VERDIENST) are not parallel to each other. That's not a good thing to see.

Les

[Wild Card]

Hello Ferg1,

I am sorry to say that, to me, your cross just doesn?t look right. I think that your observation of it having been made from a second type (smooth armed) Red Eagle 4th class might be on the mark. Beyond that, the reverse center medallion looks very much like a silvered obverse medallion of the Prussian 1st class Landwehr decoration. The obverse medallion speaks for itself.

Here is an example which has two marks on the ring.

[Wild Card]

Reverse.

[Wild Card]

Here are the marks on the ring. My old eyes just can not read them. This picture is the best I can do - any suggestions?

[Mike K]

The bigger (left) marking looks like GODET to me.

Regards

Mike

[Wild Card]

The bigger (left) marking looks like GODET to me.

Regards

Mike

Thanks Mike - I think that you might be right.

[Komtur]

The bigger (left) marking looks like GODET to me.

Regards

Mike

To me too it looks like GODET. So the other marking could be the silver content: 800, 900, 925, 938?

Regards, Komtur.

[David M]

sorry for double-posting

Edited June 26, 2008 by David M

[David M]

To me too it looks like GODET. So the other marking could be the silver content: 800, 900, 925, 938?

Regards, Komtur.

To me it looks like 938 in mirror so 839

But I am no expert...