Militar-Ehrenzeichen 1.kl

[Andy K.]

Does both the Militär-Ehrenzeichen 1kl and the Goldene Militär-Verdienst-Kreuz (aka Pour le Merite for enlisted men) have the flaw on the bar of the T in Verdienst? Read somewhere that some idiots took ME1's (which is silver) and gilded them to make the rarer GMVK. Is it possible they fakers marked the gilded example with W 938 too?

Borzadow> a real GMVK, which yours seems to be, would cost at least 10 times 150€!!!

Hallo Carl,

Many questions in one post, I try to answer them as well as possible.

1) I never have seen a genuine MEZ 1. Cl. with the flaw in the letter “T”. There also might be no one with the flaw, because as far as I know no MEZ 1. Cl. had been awarded in WW I.

2) I also have heard of it (never saw one in reality) but it does not make sense because the number of awarded MEZ 1. Cl. (around 900 in the timeframe) was less than the GMVK (around 1,770 in WW I). In addition the gilded GMVK had to have a silver hallmark according to the law. Every genuine and official awarded Wagner marked GMVK has the silver hallmark “938”. The genuine MEZ 1. Cl. has never a silver hallmark. So the fakers have to ad a silver hallmark on the faked MEZ 1. Cl. I know genuine MEZ 1. Cl. with the marker marks “AW” (awarded in the wars 1864 and 1866) and “W” awarded in the colonial wars.

3) I have seen fairly good fakes of gilded GMVK with the marks “W” and “938” on the military market, but an expert can see the differences to a genuine cross rather easy.

Regards

Andy

[Borzadow]

It arrives yesterday. At last.
Here are some pics:
(and YES, I clean it up a little bit, 'cause I can't stand this ugly dirt...)

[Borzadow]

[Borzadow]

and the markings:

[Andy K.]

Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross

As I have written in this thread a very nice and genuine Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross official awarded in the WW I.

Andy

[Don D.]

Very nice. Congratulations.

[Roglebk]

YES, I clean it up a little bit, 'cause I can't stand this ugly dirt...)

You did a good job, cross still looks "old". it's very easy to overclean gilt, then it looks too new and sometimes even dissapears. Lovely pics too!

Im a bit curious, what kind of fool sells a "MEZ 1kl" for 150E?

[VtwinVince]

Outstanding find, congratulations. I'm looking for one to fill my empty case

[Borzadow]

Thanks for comments guys!

Vince - I think that you will have a chance, because this cross will go on ebay.de on September (in a middle of month I think)

I just need money for completion my "wants list"

[Borzadow]

Yesterday I've buy a new camera - and now at last I can make good pictures!

So enjoy it with me

[Borzadow]

[Borzadow]

And a last one.
Btw in a few days it will go on ebay.de...

[streptile]

Which side is considered the obverse of this decoration?

Thanks for any help.

[Don D.]

The side with the crown.

[streptile]

The side with the crown.

Thanks, Don.