Antique Stores

[mott5ranch]

I was in San Antonio last week and look what I found in a glass case with a bunch of costume jewelry, old watches, etc. I recognized the "W" and the German. So with that I bought them.



Pretty cool, huh?




Any idea of what these are worth?




I paid $20 bucks for this lot, as is, no warranty, tax, title, and license included.

[Bill M]

--Nice deal!
--Does the "W R" mean "Wrong Ribbon"? Seriously, I've seen this before and also one from 1864 with an EK ribbon on it. I think that the owners just wanted it to be known without reservation that they were in combat. Ya think?

[Rick Research]

Far right--patriotic watchfob type medal--no clue.

Far left--1866 campaign cross, depends on which front it was awarded for. That's the reverse side. "Ko"niggratz" obverse, DM45, "Der Main Armee" DM60, "Treuern Kriegern" DM65--of course, those are with ribbons. Old rhomboid hook back bars may often be found missing these slide on/slide off awards, so find one and--voila.

In the middle is one very nice 1873-1914 Milita"rehrenzeichen 2nd Class. Notice the crisp, full, minute details. I have a copy with incomplete cypher curlicues, made out of silver but half the "3-D" of this one. This one is good. This is what to look for, people. Note the peculiar Allgemeine Ehrenzeichen type directly soldered ring--as it should be. "Normal" small and large suspension rings are COPIES. Price guides peg these at DM125. Ha.

I'd be OVERJOYED to pay 65 bucks for one.

This issue was only given for colonial campaigns, and is the most "common" of all awards given for such adventures, to enlisted men of the Imperial Navy, Colonial Schutztruppen, and East Asian Expeditionary Forces.

Isn't it nice what can still be found out there as long as there is no icky banned-by-eBay emblem on them?

[eric]

Here's another one. Has a noncombatant ribbon (period). Is that correct?





[ 21 November 2001: Message edited by: eric ]
20 bucks at a local militaria show. Didn't have a swaztiker on it...

[ 21 November 2001: Message edited by: eric ]

[Rick Research]

Noncombatant ribbon would be fine. Before WWI those were given by the status of the wearer, not how they were earned. So a paymaster or medical officer got an Order with swords on "noncombatant" ribbon, and their enlisted staffs got this medal on the "white black" ribbon too. Even if they were hacked almost limb from limb by crool native weapons!

I am obviously frequenting the wrong shows/retail establishments. However, since I have vacuumed every such within 4 hours drive each way....

[Frank Heukemes]

Gary, Rick,

I can spot the Königgrätz on the obverse, first picture, far left.

I do not know how good your German is, but if it is of any help, here is the translation on the reverse of the far right patriotic medal:
DER KAISER RIEF UND ALLE ALLE KAMEN
THE EMPEROR CALLED AND EVERYBODY CAME

Ahem, yes it is as funny in German as it is in English! But seriously, this is a well known patriotic German saying that means everybody wanted to join the forces when the war started in 1914.

Cheers, Frank