Belgium Belgian Order of the Crown

[Laurence Strong]

As more of my purchases are appearing in the mail, I decided to break them down into the individual orders.

A Knight of the Order, the enamel is in excellent shape.

Edited November 9, 2005 by Laurence Strong

[Laurence Strong]

Golden Palms of the order. It look's like a relativly new medal

[Laurence Strong]

Some new ones came in the mail.

Officer of the Order

[Laurence Strong]

A Knight of the Order. If I am wrong with the levels of the medals would you let me know please. How do you tell which ones are pre or post 1950, does the crown size have any meaning? Why do some have the swords on the medal and some on the ribbon?

Edited December 9, 2005 by Laurence Strong

[Laurence Strong]

A cased Golden Palm Leaves with Flemish writing only, would this be for a pre 1950 medal?

The case cover

Edited December 9, 2005 by Laurence Strong

[Laurence Strong]

The interior, there is no makers name in it

[Laurence Strong]

The medal it's self

[Hendrik]

A Knight of the Order. If I am wrong with the levels of the medals would you let me know please. How do you tell which ones are pre or post 1950, does the crown size have any meaning? Why do some have the swords on the medal and some on the ribbon?

Hi Laurence,

You have the pictures in the wrong order : the officer class is the gilt one with the rosette on its ribbon, the knight class is silver/silvered bronze and without the rosette.

As far as I know, there's no way of dating the Crown Order accurately unless accompanying documents referring to the recipient receiving his award are present. The crown size is not really relevant as lots of varieties exist merely because different manufacturers over the course of time have produced these awards.

I seem to spot the possibility of a silver marking on one of the suspension rings but it could be the place where the ring was soldered to close it ... you may need your magnifying glass

I've never seen a crown order with swords on the cross/medal itself. The crossed swords on the ribbon signify an award to a veteran : simple crossed swords for WWI, same but with a small planchet "40-45" for WWII and same but with a small planchet "COREE - KOREA" (or the other way around) for the Korean War. Sorry to say but the ones on yours are non-regulation. The "correct" ones have a broader blade tip (see pics of officer and knight class below). Also to be noted : the crossed swords for the knight class are silver, the ones for officer class or above are gilt.

In case you're wondering : the palm on the ribbon signifies an award for wartime merit or action. The crossed swords would then have been added on the ribbon later, years after the war, when the recipient became entitled to them as a veteran (in the late 1930's I believe).

[attachmentid=18745] [attachmentid=18746]

[Hendrik]

A cased Golden Palm Leaves with Flemish writing only, would this be for a pre 1950 medal?

I would rather think it's post-1950 and even much later than that ...

[Laurence Strong]

Thanks Hendrik.

I did not think that it was old, but I thought it would have had both languages on it.

Would the swords be an add on by the owner or a dealer trying to enhance the medal? Should I remove them?

[Hendrik]

I did not think that it was old, but I thought it would have had both languages on it.

Would the swords be an add on by the owner or a dealer trying to enhance the medal? Should I remove them?

The unilingual Flemish box in my opinion merely indicates the manufacturer came from Flanders rather than say Brussels ... being in Flemish only probably makes it 1980's or later rather than earlier but there's no way for me of accurately confirming this.

I'd leave the swords on : manufacturers sometimes use these when they feel the rosette is an obstactle for placing the correct wider swords there ... it needs more ribbon to put the latter on ! Just saving on manufacturing costs I think.

[g_deploige]

a beautifull knight cross

[g_deploige]

some details

[Jacky]

Couple of Knights of the Crown with swords.

[Jacky]

3 gold palms and 1 silver palm

I love those thin-leaved examples..

Wonderfull craftmanship!!!

[Jacky]

To Compare....

Silver Palms Order of the Crown

This one is quite old (found with an old group of WW2)

Compare this one with the relatively new Gold Palms in the very beginning of this thread.

I sold my Silver Palms a week ago, It was exactly the same as the relatively new Gold Palms,

Considered it Ugly

So sold them and bought this example....

Okay, a lot of patina, most of the shiny silver has gone, but it's just age innit???

Just like most wines... They become better with age

Edited June 12, 2006 by Jacky

[Jacky]

Knight of the Crown,

An other example except for the 3 above, which aren't in my posession,

This one has still the bright silver swords on it, also very very vibrant blue colors.

Can't make a better scan of it....

But one day.... I will buy a digital camera.....

[Jacky]

My newest addition to my collection with respect to this thread...

Officer of the crown

Obverse and reverse

hope that the scans are clear enough???

vibrant colours of the leaves and the blue!! WOnderfull

love the colours

Edited June 24, 2006 by Jacky

[g_deploige]

see here a beautifull manufacture with the leaves worked out

[g_deploige]

see here some details

[g_deploige]

and at least

[Jacky]

Fabulous!!!!

But you're hiding something

What is the whole group???

[g_deploige]

But you're hiding something

What is the whole group???

look at topic=9689

[Vatjan]

Have a look at this 3-step laurel wreath

[Vatjan]

side view