Belgium King Albert visit to Brazil - 1920

[ricky1972]

Hello all,

In 1920, the government of Brazil sends the Armored Cruiser "S?o Paulo" to bring the Belgium King Alberto I for a official visit to Brazil.

Here?s the beautiful medal given to sailors that escorted the King during this period.

Cheers,

Ricardo

[Paul R]

Ricardo,

That is a beautiful medal! How many were awarded?

[ricky1972]

Hello Paul,

I think that very few were awarded - just to selected sailors and officers that served in the Cruiser.

Cheers,

[Hendrik]

I think that very few were awarded - just to selected sailors and officers that served in the Cruiser.

Quite right : a not so common medal ! Besides the selected Brasilian crew members, the Belgian delegation on board also received the medal. A number of unawarded surplus ones were discovered in a Brasilian warehouse a few years ago and were "brought home" by a Belgian medal dealer.

A word of warning : quite good copies of this medal do exist.

Ricardo, yours looks fine, even to the ribbon being inverted which is - if I'm not mistaken - the usual error with originals : officially, the green stripe is to the left when viewing the obverse of the medal :-)

If you ever spot another one, feel free to contact me !

Cheers,

Hendrik

[ricky1972]

Hi Hendrik,

Can you tell me more about what makes you think my medal is a original?

I bought this medal from a antiques shop in Rio de Janeiro.

Thanks,

Ricardo

[ricky1972]

Here?s two examples from some friends here in Brazil.

The green stripe always on the right side...

Edited January 8, 2009 by ricky1972

[Lion]

this is a very nice Belgian medal and it would be a great match with a medal of "the Royal Household of Albert I"

If you could match this medal with a medal of the Royal Household of Albert I (for foreigners and/or belgians) it would be a beautiful and extremely rare medal set.

[Hendrik]

Hello Ricardo,

The light colour of the bronze used for the medal (copies are usually darker) and the crown suspension (different shape and solid instead of open with copies).

The medal was originally awarded while wrongly mounted on the ribbon so the yellow stripe being on the right is how the Brasilian sailors would have received it :-)

Example of a copy :

Cheers,

Hendrik

[ricky1972]

Hendrik,

Thanks for the reply and the copy image!!

OMG!! It?s a very good copy

I?ll keep my eyes open to find another one for you...

Cheers,

Ricardo

[g_deploige]

Dear Ricky1972 and Hendrik

See here my medal

Guy

[ricky1972]

Hi Guy!!

Wonderful and cased

Thanks for sharing!!!

Cheers,

Ricardo

[Gldank]

Very nice Guy,

Again, Thank you for sharing!! Are there any more there for sale?

[dcollect]

Very nice Guy,

Again, Thank you for sharing!! Are there any more there for sale?

Can anyone help me with the value of a original example ?

[ricky1972]

Can anyone help me with the value of a original example ?

I?m not trying to make anyone jealous, but I found my medal for USD50 in a local antiques shop

[dcollect]

:speechless1: 50 USD was a good price !!

i payed a lot more for my example

you can see my cased example on my site

http://www.dcollect.net/collection/BELGIUM...of_the_roy.html

thanks , dcollect