Earliest KO Marks on EK's?

[Doug See]

Anyone know when iron crosses began to be marked KO on the ring? I know this is a common mark on issue 1914's, but I have a very nicely made 1870 EK2 with 25 Year oakleaves with the KO on the ring. The cross has the typical KO shape to the arms, but has a very nicely detailed and aged 1870 core. I imagine it's a replacement piece made sometime after 1895.

Anyone else have a theory or have you seen KO 1870's?

[Bill M]

--I do remember a thread dealing with 'MM'd `70 2nd's' a few months back and that the consensus was as you've surmised - give or take a couple of years. Anyone else remember the thread I speak of?

[Eric Stahlhut]

I was once offered a 'centenary' KO marked 1813 EK2 which was sewn on a large rosette by a friend in Germany. If I recall correctly, the Royal mint (KO) was in Stuttgart and didn't start manufacturing EK's until the early part of the 20th century. Am I right? Correct me if I am mistaken..

[PaulChep]

The KO mark as we all know if for the Royal Mint. From information in "The Iron Times" I don't believe that more that 3 firms manufactures the 1870 EK1, Wagner, Godet and Lauer. This may also be the case for the EK2. Which means that any 1870 EK2 marked KO is probable a post 1895 manufacture. I have not observed a 1870 EK2 mark with any manufactures mark.

[Doug See]

It sounds like we all agree that issue 1870's weren't marked.

Can one of our members tell us when KO began making orders and medals?

[Eric Stahlhut]

After the outbreak of hostilities and the reinstitution of the 1914 EK. Fall/winter of 1914 is what I've been told.

[JensF.]

Hi,

as I know "KO" stands for "Koenigliches Muenzamt, Abteilung Orden, Stuttgart" = Royal Mint, Medals Department, Stuttgart, which was in the kingdom of Wuerttemberg.

Best regards