Please help identify medals!

[AMH1002]

I need help identifying some items that my grandmother found in my grandpa's things. We have no idea what they are, their value, or even why my grandpa had them (he fought in WWII for the US). Can anyone help?
Here is the website:

http://www.geocities.com/procrastina...ss/photos.html

If I didn't post this in the right forum, could someone direct me to the right one? I am VERY new to this!

Amy

[Daniel Krause]

The 4 place medal bar has:

-Prussian Landwehrdienstauszeichnung) Reserve long service decoration for 20 Years
- war medal 1870/71
- cross for 1866 (cannot see which fron the 3 existing)
- centenary medal (100th birthday of Wilhelm I)

the blue enameled cross is the Bavarian Merit Order of the St.Michael, commanders grade

the 2 breast stars are already identifid.

Best regards

Daniel

[AMH1002]

Thank you very much. Any idea about values?

I have been given some quotes from another collector, however, I would like to compare for the sake of deciding if this person is telling the truth or if he is giving low-ball values in order to buy them for himself. I would like to put them up for sale, but I don't know how to price them!

[PaulHD]

Per Nimmerguts Orden & Ehrenzeichen 2001/02 catalog;
the Ernestiner Breast star, Commander, 1,125 Euros

The St. Michaels Oder, Commander,3,323 Euros, but if it is a Knight class {Ritter} the value drops by more than half.
Also, if the cross is not attached to the crown suspension,
it would be depreciated at least 200 Euro.

Though none of the medals on the medal bar are rare or expensive, it looks in good condition, with a noted maker, Godet.
I believe the case may go with it . I would value it at $100 to
$120.

I may add that the values in the catalog have been shone to be
already dated, because of rising prices
Hopes this helps, PaulHD

[AMH1002]

How do I tell if it is "Knight class {Ritter}"? Also, what is the significance of the "WEISSENBURG" on the medal bar? I haven't been able to find anything out about it other than the fact that this city has a lot of hotels. (that is all that comes up when I search the www.)

Is there anywhere I can look to find out what the "current" values are since you said that the prices are going up? Or will I just have to estimate and hope that someone is interested enough to pay what I ask?

[Mike Dunn]

Well there is no daily updated price guide or quotes for medals like there is for the stock market if that is what you are looking for. What is out there is really just a range that they may be worth. I guess they are worth what someone is willing to pay for them and that will vary from collector to dealer. Mike

[PaulHD]

Mike is right. Anything collectable is only worth whatever someone else is willing to pay for it. The catalog price is only a guideline, or rough guesstimate.
As for Weissemburg; that is a gefechtspange of the War
denoting a specific battle or campaign. It adds nominally to the
price.
How to tell the difference between a Commander and Knights cross? Measure it. Since the crown suspension is separated from
the cross, a width dimension will suffice. I would expect that
cross to be 47mm wide.

BTW, I wouldn't sell to a dealer, because they're in buisness
to resell for profit. Put on ebay and see what the market will bear and don't be in a hurry.

[AMH1002]

Is 47mm wide the commanders or the Knights?

I am sorry, I am just FULL of questions , but I am selling them for my grandmother so that she can pay off her car, so I want to get as much as I can, but I don't want to be expecting $3,000 when the piece is only worth $1500. I APPRICIATE your help SO MUCH!

[PaulHD]

The more I look into this, the more complicated it gets.
The Order was revised in1887, and the Cross of the Order,
1st & 2nd cl. were added. 1st cl. was worn on an over the shoulder sash. 2nd was a neck order, that is 47mm wide.
Knight cross 40mm. Commander 55mm. Grand Cross 65mm.

Assessing a value depends on whether it is gold or
silver gilt [gold plated]. Sorry I wasn't more clear.

[Dave Danner]

WEISSENBURG clasp: Weißenburg was the first real battle of the war. The war officially began on July 19, 1870. After various border skirmishes, fighting began in earnest with the German victory in the battle of Weißenburg (Wissembourg) on August 4, 1870. This was the beginning of the drive on Metz.

Dave

[AMH1002]

This one is about 47 mm. So that makes it a 2nd class??? If so, what would the value be? What is the best way to tell if it is gold or gold plated?