Iron Cross Question

[snelson]

Hello

My name is Sebastian Nelson and my cousin recently sent me photographs
of a pair of nineteenth century Prussian medals that he inherited.
Can anyone identify these medals for me? I think one of them is an
Iron Cross second class with a non-combatant's ribbon from the
Franco-Prussian War (Stephen Previtera's book The Iron Times states
that only about four thousand non-combatant Iron Crosses were awarded
during the Franco-Prussian War.) Here are some pictures of them:

http://home.pacbell.net/nelsnfam/medals1.jpg

http://home.pacbell.net/nelsnfam/medals2.jpg

My cousin assumes that these medals were awarded to one of our
ancestors, although I can neither confirm nor deny this. I can
document our descent from several Germans who were alive during the
Franco-Prussian War, however. Can anyone recommend any resources or
archives that list the names of individuals who were awarded these
specific types of medals? Maybe I can find one of my ancestors' names
on such a list.

Thank you,

Sebastian Nelson
sebnelson@gmail.com

[gregM]

The round medal is the 1870/71 war service medal for non-combatents.
The Iron cross is the 1870 with non-combat ribbon. They make a very
good set. 1870 iron crosses are heavily faked. Good,sharp close-up
pictures of the front side of the cross would really be needed to give
you a good information it. At first blush it looks OK but it's impossible
to tell for sure from these pictures.