Italy Italian medals from Fascist Era

[Cartaphilus]

Hello everyone. I am very interested in the wide variety of awards from Italian fascist period and the various wars in which italians participated. In my collection I keep the following parts of this era.

I'd love to get for my collection a Cross of Knight of the Military Order of Savoy, but it seems it is hard to get and took many months looking for some in vain. I hope to be lucky to find one next year.

[claudio2574]

Hello,

it's interesting to see that Italian medals are of some interest abroad.

First picture. The cross of St.Mauricius and Lazarus looks very fine. The cross of Italy crown seems a late one, with some harm to the Savoy nodes; it has a Spanish suspension. Could you send a bigger picture of the valour medal? It seems to me that it is not a mint one (should have the "Z" in the bottom). The others of the first picture look good.

About the second picture: I've never seen the volunteer medal for AOI you have. For sure it's my fault, but the one I know has the "Morbiducci" mark on the bottom, like this:

Could you post the back view for the Russia cross and the MVSN round medal, please?

About the third picture: th first cross is very interesting. This is my one, on replacement ribbon:

Some doubt about the Africa medal, there are so many fakes around! On the other side there should be the mark Lorioli-Milano and De Marchis:

There are several variants for the 11th army cross. The "official" (really unofficial, bu the very first) is the Mori variant:

About the military order of Savoy: not easy to find. Be prepared to pay more than you do for your best sample!

Bye

[Cartaphilus]

Hello Claudio.

My Italian Crown Order has Spanish suspension because belonged to a falangist politician.

Bye.

[claudio2574]

Hello Claudio.

My Italian Crown Order has Spanish suspension because belonged to a falangist politician.

Bye.

Ok, I see. Do you have his diploma?

[Cartaphilus]

No, unfortunately most of the decorations of this man (and documents) disappeared at the hands of his grandson and heir, who had very different political ideas than his grandfather. Instead of selling the whole parts separated because he thought he could get more money for them separately. I could see the set at the time sold for parts, and among them were the Order of the German Eagle and several Spanish political honors such as the Order of Cisneros and the Order of the Yoke and the Arrows.

[claudio2574]

That's a pity. Whatever the ideas were, the traces of the story should be manteined... Anyway, whenever possible I'm waiting to see more detailed pictures of the other medals, if you agree.

[Cartaphilus]

Hi Claudio.

I'm a por photographer and my camera inst' too a good machine, but...

This is my Italian-German Campaing medal, back side. Marks of Lorioli-Milano and De Marchis can be seen.

And these are the MVSN and Russian Campaign CSIR medals:

Finally, I don't understad well where must be a "Z" in the Medaglia al Valor Militare. At the bottom of the medal? of the Crown?

Greetings from Spain.

[claudio2574]

hello again and thanks. Your Africa medal looks good. However, please take into consideration that in the near past a big amount of fakes were set out and that to confirm its originality a direct comparison with other medals is the only way.

The MVSN medal is really interesting and good - no doubt.

The Russia cross has a strange backside. It should be flat, I see many bubbles which are suspect. This medal also has been widely remade, usually by melting, and this kind of bubbles could be the result of a melting.

The Medals for bravery were officially given to the recipient coming from the Royal mint. Here you can see one of it, with the crowned "Z" and F G in the lower part:

However almost all people usually weared unofficial copies without the Z mark, like this:

Bye and read you soon

[Cartaphilus]

Hello Claudio.

My Bronze Medal hasn't the three letters at the bottom. I bought both medals some 8 or 10 years ago to a shop of my confidence, Anticopresidio from Firenze. Do you think that is a good reputation seller? What is their opinion of this store among Italian collectors?

Greetings.

[claudio2574]

Yes, he's a well known seller. He's the writer of the only catalog with prices for Italian medals and got some criticism for this. However the items he sells are ok.

Bye!

Claudio

[Elmar Lang]

The priced catalogue published by the owner of Anticopresidio (who is a numismatist with a good reputation, though) is a relatively good book, but lacks of some in-deep research and detail. In any case, books are always precious, even when not agreeing with the author.

In my opinion, the best work available on the subject of Italian awards are the two-volumes work of A. Brambilla "Le Medaglie Italiane degli Ultimi 200 Anni" (now a collector's piece) and the new edition of volume 1 (enlarged and now fully illustrated with colour photographs, instead of line drawings); volume 2 is almost complete, as far as the author said some weeks ago.

All the best,

E.L.

Edited September 10, 2013 by Elmar Lang

[medalman90]

Cartaphilis, I love your Italian collection! especially your Etterian East Africa medal (thats a medal that has eluded me every time!)

[Cartaphilus]

While not listed for sale a Military Order of Savoy, I'll try to obtain a Colonial Order of the Star of Italy. It will be a good addition to the African campaigns medals that I have, I think.

[claudio2574]

The colonial order of the Italy Star is quite easier to find than the Military order of Savoy. Here is my one, knight:

... and its diploma: