1914 War Service cross on EBay, Opinions?

[Egret]

Hello,
This is on Ebay. WAR SERVICE CROSS--Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1914 Item number: 2281670119. Does it look good?
Thanks,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...281670119&rd=1
Chris
New Hampshire

[Eric Stahlhut]

Looks like he bought a price-reference catalog after getting hosed royally on all of those EK1's. I saw some of them sell a few weeks later for 2-3 times what he sold them for. I felt bad about seeing that happen because he seems to be a very decent fellow.

[Adam H]

I like this cross and had in fact spotted it earlier...and plunked a low bit on just to track the thing.

How much did his EKs sell for Eric? I didn't get to follow those auctions.

Cheers,

Adam

[stogieman]

He may have....

... bought himself a price guide, but $500 for the 1914 Cross is way too much dough. $350-$400 tops, and it better be perfect. I would consider his BIN price only if he had the issue case, which is extremely rare!
The cross looks legit to me, but not at his price!

[Eric Stahlhut]

Adam,

He listed a whole slew of first class crosses of all types (some rare) with "buy it now" prices ranging from $30-$125. Some very nice ones went for approx. $50, if I remember correctly.

Yeah, I agree with Rick. 500 bones is too steep.

[Adam H]

Eric,

Thanks for the info. Wish I could have snagged a couple for the tickle trunk at those prices! Ah well...hopefully some of you guys managed to grab up some of them.

Cheers,

Adam

[Dave Danner]

Also:

1. It is the War Merit Cross (Militärverdienstkreuz); "War Service Cross" would be Militärdienstkreuz.

2. Friedrich Franz IV was the Grand Duke from 1897 to 1918. The "FF" actually stands for Friedrich Franz II, the decoration's founder, but since his successors had the same initials, they felt no need to modify the award as was done with the Iron Cross.

3. Mecklenburg-Schwerin may have been the 5th largest state in area, but it was eighth in population, after Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Württemberg, Baden, Hesse and Hamburg.

4. This is not a "non-combat award." Differing ribbons on the 2nd class distinguished combat and non-combat awards, but there was no such distinction for the 1st class. The only way to identify one as non-combat would be to know to whom it was awarded and why.