War of 1812 Service medal.

[BILL]

I thought you guys would be interested in seeing this on E-Bay. British General Service Medal with "Fort Detroit" bar named to "Joseph Aughguaga Warrior". Is this real?!!! If so Incredible!!! He would have known Brock and Tecumseh. Item number 270189012518. http://cgi.ebay.com/FORT-DETROIT-BRI...LITARY-GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL BAR. If this is legit I have to let Canadain war museum know about it.

[findabetterole]

Hello Bill,

I would advise 'EXTREME CAUTION' here. To me, something about that medal shouts 'Leave it alone, put your cash back in your wallet'.

The ribbon if far to pristine to be original, and the patina of the medal itself just does not look right. The actual medal was not issued until 55.years after the first campaign that it commemerates.

A question that should be asked here is: "why, if this is such a historically important medal, is the seller not going through a specialist respected auction hose?"

Call me a sceptic if you wish, but this item looks recent. Let the museum know anyway, and they can contact the seller, possibly to arrange (if the seller is willing, which I doubt) a private hands on viewing.

Seph

[MH184]

Hello Bill,


A question that should be asked here is: "why, if this is such a historically important medal, is the seller not going through a specialist respected auction hose?"


Seph

Exactly, I'd certainly exercise caution over any such sale concering rare items of worth on e bay of all places.

[Don D.]

"This authenticated historical award is the property of a registered Canadian Military Museum. We are acting in confidence on their behalf."

So much for donating items.....

[yellow]

Any museum reserves the right to sell items which are their property.

If you dont believe me here is a little snippet from a Regimental Museum charity document highlighting what trustees can and cannot do. You'll find most museums have a similar document.

Disposal of collection items

(1) Subject to the provisions of this clause and the trustee’s disposal policy, the
trustee may dispose of any item comprised in the collection which is:
(a) owned by the charity; and
(b) no longer required by the museum or for loan; and
(c) not held on terms which require its return to the donor or to any other
body or person.

(2) The trustee must consult with the regimental representative before disposing
of any item in the collection.

(3) Before it is disposed of in any other manner, any item which is to be disposed
of shall be offered in accordance with the order of priority in clause 9 of this
scheme.

(4) Providing the item to be disposed of is not held on special trust prohibiting disposal, the trustee may dispose of it to any organisation listed in sub clause (3) above on such terms as it may decide.

(5) Subject to sub clauses (3) and (4) above, any item must be disposed of forthe best terms reasonably obtainable.

(6) The trustee must obtain and consider a valuation from a proper and
competent person instructed by the trustee before disposing of any item.

(7) The proceeds of sale must be held for the objects of the charity.

[Adam H]

A Duffer. Has been discussed at length elsewhere. Listed twice recently with no takers. Enough said.

[Garth Thompson]

This particular medal has been around for awhile in medal circles, generally agreed to be, as Adam says, a duffer by experianced collectors who have handled it. From the pictures looks to be a remaned MGS assembled with a Fort Detroit bar.
Garth

[Robert Shoaf]

Medal Yearbook values this MGS with the Fort Detroit clasp at 3500 pounds, or over $7,000.00. If it was authentic, I would think that any reputable medal dealer would be interested. This units taking part in this action were Royal Artillery-30, 41st Foot-250, Royal Newfoundland Regt. -50, and approxomately 650 indians. I would guess that very few were alive to claim their medal in 1848! Ebay would not be my choice of venue if I owned a medal this valuable.

[findabetterole]

Its pleasing to see that good old 'common sence' rules!

Well done chaps.

Seph