1815 Hanoverian Waterloo Medal

[vonStubben]

I need some help from the Imperial German medal experts.

How much is a German Waterloo medal of 1815 (made of silver and appears to have the name etc. of the receipient around the rim) that is engraved to a Hanoverian Rgt. worth?

Also included is an 1809/15 military war service medal, and another that I have not been able to identify which says Fur Treue Dienste on one side and has a double cypher on the other. All have their original ribbons.

These are owned by an antique dealer friend of mine who just recently pulled them from a large Jewish retirement community here in So. Florida. He doesn't want to sell them to me at the moment but will eventually.

Thanks,

Chuck

[Wild Card]

Hello vonStubben,

Today, Hannoverian Waterloo medals are generally selling for $800 - $1,250 depending on several factors. Less than ten years ago, they were one third of these prices; but they were finally recognized as being among the first medals given for a specific battle, with the recipient’s name and unit, as well as the fact that only recently have the Hannoverians been properly recognized for the key roll they played (several times) in this battle.

Can you tell us exactly what is engraved (actually it should be impressed) around the rim? Is the engraver’s name “Wyon” present beneath the king’s bust? Is the suspension original - pictures would be very helpful.

Your description of the other two medals is too vague for me to give any opinions - again, pictures.

I hope that this little bit of information is helpful and that you can get some pictures so that we can pin this down.

Regards,

Wild Card

[vonStubben]

Hello vonStubben,

Today, Hannoverian Waterloo medals are generally selling for $800 - $1,250 depending on several factors. Less than ten years ago, they were one third of these prices; but they were finally recognized as being among the first medals given for a specific battle, with the recipient’s name and unit, as well as the fact that only recently have the Hannoverians been properly recognized for the key roll they played (several times) in this battle.

Can you tell us exactly what is engraved (actually it should be impressed) around the rim? Is the engraver’s name “Wyon” present beneath the king’s bust? Is the suspension original - pictures would be very helpful.

Your description of the other two medals is too vague for me to give any opinions - again, pictures.

I hope that this little bit of information is helpful and that you can get some pictures so that we can pin this down.

Regards,

Wild Card

Wild Card,

Thank you for your help. I did not have a camera with me at the time and will try to get some pictures, if not be able to buy them outright, and then return to this thread to post them. Also, thanks for letting me know what to look for, and yes the lettering around the rim did seem to be impressed but the medal is so black with tarnish it was hard to read withoug a loupe and decent light. Also it did have it's original suspension device attached to a "bar" hanger (like that of a USN or USMC good conduct medal) that the ribbon was attached to. The ribbons on all the medals have faded badly but are intact and not frayed. From the other evidence available these medals have been mounted like this (on black courderoy in a frame) since 1926.

Regards,

Chuck

[Wild Card]

Hi vonStubben,

Below is an example of what an original suspension for a Hannoverian Waterloo medal suspension should look like. Do not despair if yours is not the same. I would venture that less than one in five examples surviving today has it’s original suspension device. By their very nature and design, these “claw and ring” devices were doomed to being short lived - especially when awarded to recipients who spent time bouncing around on horseback.

As an aside, I have often contemplated a display of some of the many different replacement answers at an OMSA convention. I look forward to your pictures.

Best wishes,

Wild Card