The biannual meeting of the Holy Grail club 2007

[Wild Card]

Reverse.

[oldflagswanted]

...speaking of 1813

Speaking of Bluecher...

<center><h4>Rolf:
Cool statue! Shown below is as close as I get
to anything 1813 in my collection. Would love
to have a 1813 IC pole top! I've heard that they
were made with real Grand Crosses, is that true?
</h4></center><center>
<img src=http://home.att.net/~gullcottage/RZMeistr.JPG>
</center><br><center>
<img src=http://members.tripod.com/~oldflagswanted/bkdm1813.jpg>
</center>

[gregM]

An 1813 Non-com

WC,
Is the cross coated with something ? Maybe it's just the picture
quality but the picture of the reverse side looks like there is some
sort coating on it.

[Wild Card]

Hi GregM,

Yes. Well, sort of... the areas in and around the crown, oakleaves and date show traces of, as you accurately put it, “some sort of coating. The obverse is completely “dry”.

For some reason, Napoleonic era medals occasionally show up with some sort of old “lacquer” coating. I have seen this more than once on Brunswick Waterloo medals and even on an Anhalt iron medal.

I didn’t realize how bad these pictures were until after I posted them. If I can offer any more detailed ones, please let me know exactly what you would like, and I will do my best.

Wild Card

P.S. Expecting a visitor you should meet this weekend.

[Biro]

Wild Card

IMO, a fine 1813 ek2 - Congratulations.

I think Greg is referring to what appears to be a pale 'film' over the entire reverse core - not the black stuff around the date and oaks. Maybe it's just the reverse photo, but it does look very much like a clear lacquer covering the whole iron core.

Marshall

[Wild Card]

GregM & Biro,

Here is a better photo. The “film” only appears around the crown, oakleaves and date. Beyond these areas, arms 2 and 4 are, as I said, “dry” like the entire obverse, which does not show any evidence of ever having had any covering. It is possible that at one time the entire reverse was covered by this “film” which has since somehow disappeared from the “dry” areas.

Wild Card

[Marc Garlasco]

Fantastic. What do you think of the ribbon? How does it compare to other Napoleonic-era cloth?
Marc

[gregM]

WC,
Marshall was right. I was commenting on the milky white appearence
to the reverse of the cross. It must just be the photo.
The details of the cross arejust what you would want in an original
1813. PLUS a Non-com ribbon. Very nice.

Congrats on a great cross

[Wild Card]

Hi Marc,

Although hardly an expert on the subject, I feel pretty comfortable with this ribbon.

GregM & Biro,

Thank you for your words of assurance. I must admit to being woefully uneducated when it comes to Iron Crosses. As a token of thanks, I have arranged for a little friend to stop by for a rare visit - unfortunately he has to live in a bank some distance from home. Pictures to follow.

Best wishes,

Wild Card

[Wild Card]

Our guest.

[Wild Card]

Reverse.

[gregM]

Very cool indeed. How long have you been hiding this from us ?
It is rumored that there are 1 or possibly 2 others on the forum
but so far none have been posted.

That is a rare bird. I understand why it lives at at the bank.
Although it would be hard for me not to have it somewhere
close so I could look at it whenever the urge came.

WELL DONE.

[Don D.]

Now that is something you don't see every day. Thanks for showing.

[gregM]

Your 1st class looks a lot like my 2nd class. They would make a great
set. Stored at my house of coarse

[Biro]

Wildcard

I'd recognise that one anywhere - last seen residing in the Max Aurich/Friedhelm Heyde collection if I'm not mistaken.

You have one of medal collectings true rarities in your collection. My hat is off to you.

Marvel at this one boys and girls - this is undeniably the real deal.

Absolutely...... f***ing ...... outstanding.

Marshall