Hanseatic Cross for Lubeck

[Brian L.]

By nostrils do you mean beak? Since originals were produced right up to the 1960s for purchase by those eligible for them, variations on the enamel exist. There's a well-known early 1960s catalogue from orders supplier Friedrich Sedlaczek Nachfolger offering this cross for sale along with all the other major WWI merit crosses. As I understand it, red talons, tongue and beak denote WWI and early post-WWI issue. While black talons, tongue and beak denote later issue through to the 1960s. However, I've also seen black beaks with red talons and red beaks with black talons, which might be earlier post WWI variations. Then there's the whole issue around the flat vs. the round suspension ring.

At 8-10,000 awarded (compared to 20,000 from Bremen and more than 50,000 for Hamburg) it is the rarest of the three. While issue version are comparatively harder the find, given the longevity of production and the propensity of German veterans to 'bling out', especially during the Weimar and Third Reich periods, the numbers of these around in all forms is greater than one would normally expect.

[Gardereiter]

Thank you, bolewts58, for a very informative post.

I didn't know that these crosses were officially produced up until the 1960s. I simply thought these modern copies were made to deceive collectors. And yes... only a portion of the beaks in the area of the nostrils are red enamel, and that's why I said "nostrils." It looks like the beaks on Ron's cross are almost entirely red, more than merely the nostril areas.

What is surprising to me is your report that there are more of these crosses circulating in the collectors market than we realize AND that they appear in many different forms. All I can say is that I'm going to be scrutinizing these crosses much more closely in the future, keeping these details in mind.

[Brian L.]

I didn't know that these crosses were officially produced up until the 1960s. I simply thought these modern copies were made to deceive collectors.

Just to be clear. There's a difference between modern copies and private purchase pieces made after 1945 for sale to WWI veterans. After the 1957 re-issue of TR awards, it became acceptable again to wear medals and most of the major WWI awards (apart from most orders) became available for purchase for surviving veterans. The same was true for the 1935 authorized Freikorps awards (Schlesien Adler, Baltenkreuz and Kärntnerkreuz). I suspect that these private purchase pieces were still available up to the early 80s. But, I think most were produced from the late 50s to the early 70s.

There are also modern copies made to deceive. One well-known version is often referred to as the "screaming chicken" because of how badly done the double-headed eagle is done.

Here's one of the 1960s private purchase crosses that sold on eMedals. The quality just wasn't the same as the original issue versions.

[Ralph A]

A mounted one, red feet. Black-red discussions have changed over the years. 20 years ago (when I acquired this bar) "black was pre-war; red was wartime." Glad to see things have expanded a little.

To me, the St. Florian firefighters medal is of particular interest. A Weimar-era award.

[Don D.]

Hi Ralph, long time no see.

[ww1czechlegion]

Here's my 2-piece bar with the Lubeck Cross.

Best Regards,

Alan



Lubeck front.jpg

Lubeck back.jpg