jshorter Posted February 21, 2010 Posted February 21, 2010 Hi everyone, Just got back from the 'Show of Shows' in Louisville, Kentucky this afternoon, and boy was I amazed! Too bad I couldn't go on a shopping spree as I would have liked! I did pick up a nice, simple trio bar that contains a Baden Silver Merit Medal. My question is, upon looking the medals over very carefully, I noticed that the merit medal has what appears to be a very small (for lack of a better description) bee marked on the bottom edge. It is the silvered bronze version, and not the late war zinc version, so I am guessing this is the mark for bronze. Am I guessing correctly? Thanks! Jason
saschaw Posted February 21, 2010 Posted February 21, 2010 Sure it is bronze, not iron? Use a magnet... It is the silvered bronze version, and not the late war zinc version, so I am guessing this is the mark for bronze. Am I guessing correctly? Almost correct. This mark is seen on ALL official strikes of this medal that are not silver: bronze, iron, zinc. Up to June 1916, they were struck in Karlsruhe state mint in silver, then they changed to B. H. Mayer and non-silver. If yours is bronze, congratulations. Those are the rarest while zinc, iron and silver are rather common with a total of guessed 170,000 awarded in WW1. Not to be confused with "Spangenstücke", which are usually silvered bronze or brass - but not official strikes, and always without the mark.
jshorter Posted February 21, 2010 Author Posted February 21, 2010 Sure it is bronze, not iron? Use a magnet... Didn't even think to do that!! Yep, it's iron! Thank you for the information on the mark, too!!! Jason
Kev in Deva Posted February 21, 2010 Posted February 21, 2010 I have one in my possesion which appears to be of two thin bronze discs with an Iron core in between. Kevin in Deva.
saschaw Posted February 22, 2010 Posted February 22, 2010 I have one in my possesion which appears to be of two thin bronze discs with an Iron core in between. Kevin in Deva. Discs? The iron medals were coppered before silvered, but that makes no disc but just a finish... sure yours is three-part?
Kev in Deva Posted February 22, 2010 Posted February 22, 2010 Discs? The iron medals were coppered before silvered, but that makes no disc but just a finish... sure yours is three-part? Yup, fairly sure the copper on the edge / rim has not been peeled off, will dig it out and take some pictures in daylight tomorrow, then post them. Kevin in Deva. :beer:
Kev in Deva Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 Discs? The iron medals were coppered before silvered, but that makes no disc but just a finish... sure yours is three-part? Sorry for the delay took me a while to locate the item in my office.
Kev in Deva Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 Kink in the upper rear disc caused during the fixing of the modified ribbon ring. Kevin in Deva. :beer:
Kev in Deva Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 Side view, rusted core reminds me more of Iron rather than steel. Kevin in Deva. :cheers:
Kev in Deva Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 Any opinions more than welcome with regards this item. Kevin in Deva. :beer:
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