Golden Cross of Merit. Goldenes Verdienstkreuz.

[Farkas]

Hi Gents,

I’ve been negotiating the release of 9 ktk and some other KuK goodies from a fellow collector… his weakness is the good old German EK…

 

He wants these from me…

 

I want these from him…

we had just reached a deal 😁 when he threw this curveball at me 👇

 

 

 

 

As you gents may have noticed I don’t buy things like this, I’m sure I’ve not spent more than 100quid on a medal/cross for literally years.

I know the pictures aren’t much to go on but soon I’ll see it and get a better look.

 

Until then, do any of you have any advice for me please? 
I know it’s ‘Gold’ class but is it actually gold? The ring has wear & looks like gilt not gold 🤷‍♂️

Is it dateable?

 

I could look some of it up, & that’s fun when others are asking, but for myself I’d rather ask you Gents 🍻

cheers

tony

 

 

 

[Christian1962]

@tony: I am not sure if there could be an enemal repair on the avers 6 o´clock arm. Solid gold crosses would be hallmarked at the ring. Maybe the hallmark is not visible?

The flat enemal on the backside is a nice variant and not common.

Regards

Christian

[djn]

The cross is not made of gold, it is gilded, it is a WW1 variant, but it is a slightly rarer variant due to the white enamel on the back

[Farkas]

On 17/01/2024 at 04:26, Christian1962 said:

@tony: I am not sure if there could be an enemal repair on the avers 6 o´clock arm. Solid gold crosses would be hallmarked at the ring. Maybe the hallmark is not visible?

The flat enemal on the backside is a nice variant and not common.

Regards

Christian

 

On 17/01/2024 at 20:18, djn said:

The cross is not made of gold, it is gilded, it is a WW1 variant, but it is a slightly rarer variant due to the white enamel on the back

Thanks both,

that’s what I needed to know and more.

 

Ballpark figure £200 which sounds good to me & It’s mine if I want it, I’ll have it to look over next week so I’ll post some more pictures then.

 

Thanks again,

tony 🍻

[Farkas]

Hi Gents,

it turned up today for me to see.

 

I can’t see myself sending it back 😃

 

 

On 17/01/2024 at 04:26, Christian1962 said:

I am not sure if there could be an enemal repair on the avers 6 o´clock arm.

Spot on Christian 👍

Its’s definitely got a repaired patch.

There are no marks on the ring!or elsewhere that I have seen.

There is a visible mark/groove but turns out it is not a makers mark as I expected.

 

 

As pointed out above, a less common flat reverse with a white enamel ring…

 

 

 Producing this side profile…

 

 

I think it’s a keeper…

tony 🍻

[Farkas]

Hello Gents,

I thought I might add this silver example while I’m here…I bought it not that long ago.

 

At first it looked something like this, with the ring flattened like the image shows, the cross on the crown worn down to a little nub, in fact all of it well rubbed, the crown no longer movable, it shows various repairs and needs more but it had survived 100+ years…

 

But 10 minutes later it looked like this…

I should have left it alone or taken more care but I couldn’t help trying to open the ring and I messed up…

 

 

I was so annoyed with myself and disappointed that I didn’t feel like posting any pictures of it.

 

However, time heals all wounds so I thought I’d add some pictures here.

 

 

 

Harsh comment is fine Gents, it is much deserved 🫤 I am still kicking myself. 
A lesson learned the hard way.

 

cheers,

tony 🍻

 

 

[graham]

Ouch!!! Lesson learned indeed. I am sure you are glad it was not a PLM!!!!!!!!!!

[Farkas]

1 hour ago, graham said:

Ouch!!! Lesson learned indeed. I am sure you are glad it was not a PLM!!!!!!!!!!

Can you imagine 😮

I just googled how much is a PLM and there’s one for €25,000!!

That really would be like a scene from a Mr Bean movie 🥴
 

tony 🍻