Italian mission medals, which ones are real and which ones are fake?

[Sampo]

Hello,

There is a broad offer of Italian medals for missions in Kosovo, Bosnia, Lebanon, Somalia etc. But there are also a lot of variations in these medals. Can anyone help me in what to look for to buy an original issued Italian mission medal. I found a group, but is is real and why?

Thanks!

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

this medal bar appears as appropriate, with a nicely made cross of the Merit Order of the Republic, in the new type (more recent pieces are horribly made).

The Long Service Cross looks ok, same as the mission medal/cross.

The "Order of the Iron Crown" is a "self styled order" that fortunately is now forbidden for wear.

It's difficult to say whether a mission medal is an original or not, because they are always privately purchased, since our state mint discontinued the production of medals, besides those for military, naval and civil valour.

So, we can see medals of different manufacture, but legitimately purchased and mounted to the medal bar, from a very nice quality, to poor, cast and roughly finished pieces.

Best,

Enzo (E.L.)