Oldenburg Verdienstmedaille 1916

[kasle]

Hello,

Can you please comment on this medal? I sold it on ebay and buyer has concerns about its originality. Thank you in advance.

 

[Claudius]

Hello Kasle;

I can understand your buyer's concern about this medal.  The short answer is "Yes" this medal is original and period. 

But why did your buyer even have a question about this medal?  And that is the long answer. 

This medal has all the details of an original and is an excellent strike.  The embossed lettering, on the reverse the tiny dots before and after the words and right down to the artists initials on the obverse.  The medal looks perfect..except it isn't "blackened".  H&S describes the medal as blackened iron.  And the öse is different too.  This is why your buyer is questioning the medal.  Why the difference?

I believe I know the answer.  I've seen this before with the Schwarzburg Ehrenmedaille that was also made at different periods with slightly different construction techniques.

The Oldenburg War Merit Medal 1916 was first decreed in November 21, 1916 to those who have show help in the war effort.  On May 9th, 1917 the awarding of the medal was expanded to include younger recipients (minimum age of 15) and to women. (awarded on a bow ribbon)

I have seen Oldenburg War Merit Medals 1916 on regular ribbons and they were blackened medals with the heavier öse.  The medals on bows seem to be the unblackened medal with the thinner öse.

My theory is that when they expanded the award to include more recipients (i.e. women) AND the war was making more demands in materials the production of this medal changed.  They no longer took the extra step to blacken it and a öse they used needed less time and metal.

This OWMM 1916 you sold is one of these latter productions and obviously awarded to a woman.

Everything else checks out too.  To the ribbon and the DRGM stamp on the pin holder. Ordinarily I would suggest a black light to the threads, but I don't think they will glow. 

Someone else here may have an opinion on this piece and may have a correction or something to add.