Starting collector EK2 1914 (maker mark & certificate)

[charles]

Hi,

I'm a new member of the GMIC and only recently started collecting WW1 iron cross medals. My first iron cross is the one below, which i believe to be genuine. However, the ring is broken (I don't know if it's the original ring), but there is still something of a makers mark left; I think ''K'' or "V'' maybe. What do you guys think?

Another thing is that this one came with an award certificate (vorläufiges besitzzeugnis; provisional possession certificate). Can anyone here tell me more about these and if this one is originaI, because I know very little about these certificates? 

Thank you!

Best Regards,

Charles

[Chris Boonzaier]

The certificate is good.

I have had private purchase EKs with small rings that were probably made that way as they are better to hang in a medal bar. This may be a normal award piece where someone made the ring smaller for that reason.

 

Best

Chris

[charles]

Thanks Chris!

[tompress]

Hi,

cross seems to be known variant with "V" manufacturer's mark (maker not identified), iron core type M. Characteristic for this version is 9 touching the following 1 in the date 1914. Ring is a reduced original.

regards
Tomasz

[charles]

Hi Tomasz,

Thanks for your reaction. Do you know if the different iron core types are documented? I would like to learn more about them, but I can't find a lot on the internet. 

Best,

Charles

 

[tompress]

The best source for the Iron Crosses 1813, 1870 and 1914 is the book by Frank Wernitz (German & English issues available), published 2013 by Verlag Militaria in Vienna:

https://www.militaria.at/Book.aspx?book=1008000&Language=de

greetings
Tomasz

[charles]

Cheers I'll have a look!