Medal Bar Assistance

[Larry Lipps]

Need a little assistance from you imperial guys. A friend has a couple of medal bars he may sell and I was thinking about picking one up. Since Imperial stuff is out of my league, I need some help. Unfortunately this is the only photo I have, but I was somewhat interested in the top bar. My questions are basically, is this a legit combination and does it appear to be original based on the photo. Before asking for additional photos, I'd also like to have an idea of what would be a fair offer if it's okay. Thanks for any assistance.

[Don D.]

From the front they both look believable to me.

[Dave Danner]

The top one is possibly traceable, if the recipient made general in the Third Reich. If he only reached Oberst, it might not be traceable. It would be a matter of going through the Luftwaffe generals' bios and finding a Bavarian MVO/Baden ZLO/Austrian MVK combo who didn't also have some other award to rule him out.

It is likely a pre-war bar, so the lack of a 1939 clasp to the EK or at least a KVK2 is not unusual. It is actually likely pre-1938, as the post-Anschluss order of precedence would make the Austrian MVK a German award and move it ahead of the Honor Cross for Combatants.

[Klaus O.]

Hi Larry,

Both bars seem to be original, actually there are very nice.

It would be nice to see the reverse of the bars, too. The second bar was from a WWI senior Bavarian NCO who went on serving in the army until the 30ies if not later (WWII). Maybe he made it to become an officer. It is just a bit strange that on the second bar the ribbons are folded overlapping the previous medal from the right to the left instead of the more common way from the left to the right. Just a detail. But still nice.

It's difficult to put a price tag: nowadays I saw prices of medal bars skyrocketing, especially for the named or documented groups.

If you sum up the value of each single medal you can easily find out the price.

EK 2. Klasse 1914 USD 40.-
BMVK 4. Kl. mit X USD 350.- (400.- tops, it depends what the maker is)
OLZ RK 2. Kl. mit X USD 350.- (400.- tops)
EK f. Frontk******228;mpfer USD 10.-
DA 2. + 4. Stufe USD 250.- (300.- tops because Luftwaffe)
Austrian MVK 3. Kl. USD 100.- (150.- tops with flawless enamal)
Hungarian WWI Med. USD 20.-

Total USD 1'120.- / max USD 1'320.-

The Second bar:

EK 2. Kl. 1914 USD 40.-
BMVK 1. Kl. mit X USD 200.- (maybe USD 250.- if you're a Bavarian MVK addicted)
FEK USD 10.-
Luitpold-Medal USD 25.- (tops 30.-)
DA 1. u. 3. Stufe USD 300.- (tops, since they are a bit dirty)

Total USD 575.- / max USD 600.-

Of course a dealer could ask more, but the question is as collector how far you would go for having these bars in your collection.

Since I don't have a medal bar with the OZL w/swords yet, I would be very interested in the first one and could also spend a bit more.

Ciao,

Claudio

[McCulloh]

Nice bars-the lower one is actually, technically the rarer-since the BMVKx1 was rarely awarded.

[Tim Tezer]

Ditto on the 2nd bar, but I would add that it is desirable not only because the MVK1 is scarce, but also because there are a lot of fakes floating around (usually MVK2s that have been gold plated), but on an original period mounting you can be reasonably certain that you've got an original here.

Tim