Military merit cross

[Patrick W]

Hi Guys

Would be grateful for some opinions on this one please. I know these are very rare so haven't been able to find much to compare to. The only marking on the cross is Fr on the ring for Friedlander.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts,

Patrick

[Patrick W]

,,

[streptile]

Sure is an interesting piece.

It's not the award-type Wagner, and I'm not sure what it is. To me it looks believable as a medalbar duplicate piece, which can be collectible in their own right and fetch up to $400.

I think "the club" also makes these, so you might want to compare against one of theirs. The "Fr" mark looks good to me, but those people are crafty devils.

It's not silver-marked anywhere, huh?

Here is an interesting short article on these, and here is an award-type:

[römischIX]

i thought this, too.

[saschaw]

Is this a gilt cross after all, or one in silver? If silver, it's not the Military Merit Cross, but the Military Honour Decoration 1st class. If so, check this out:

http://www.medalnet.net/Military_Honor_Medal.htm

While there is a chance it may be an old wearers copy, I'd rather not buy it, at least not for "big money". They have been faked for decades.

[Patrick W]

Thanks for the comments guys- it is a silver cross rather than the gilt award. I think I will be cautious and send it back, the patina is a little strange.

[pzrwest]

Who or what is "the club" were they a group that made fake or repro medals etc????

[saschaw]

Who or what is "the club" were they a group that made fake or repro medals etc????

Here's the shop: http://www.ordensammler.com/

And this is his ebay account, "unfortunately" not selling something at the moment: http://cgi6.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=3&completed=1

I have literally hardly ever seen anything real there, so beware.