1957 Prussian Gold Merit Cross?

[JensF.]

I was told this Goldenes Militärverdienstkreuz is a cross manufactured after 1957. Any opinions?

[Rick Research]

Jens was told this is a Steinhauer & Lück piece, so I'm copying this over to the "Crosses" Forum too in case anybody has seen modern sales literature on this, like their WW2 "M1957" pieces.

[Eric Gaumann]

I've noticed a few of the German medal sellers on the 'net sell Imperial medals under a '1957' heading. I consider them repros, and although they may be made by some sort of official decree by a legitimate maker they are naught but copies to me. Of course that wouldn't stop me from getting one or two to fill a hole in my ever-expanding collection if I had to. But generally I'd stay away from them. I mean, who's to say Stienhower and Look made them and not Steinhauer & Lück?

[JensF.]

With these awards you have to differ between originals and contemporary originals. If you have an EKII 1939 and an 1957 EKII 1939 both are originals because they are mentioned in the Federal German Law for orders, decorations and titles and protected by this law. Sure the 1957 EK has no swastika but in the moment it is listend in a law it is original. And they were made by an official maker (Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid). Sure a contemporary medal with a little patina and dust and with an old originally worn (and smelling) ribbon is better, but both are originals depending on the design and the time they were issued. Ernst Jünger for example wore his medals (BOTH Pour le Merites, scientific and military) until his death and as far as I know these were 1957 made examples.

[stogieman]

fake!

Sorry guys, even as a model '57 this doesn't cut it. Correct cross, no matter what/when/where, must have a ball suspension knob, not a ring!

[Daniel Krause]

IMO there are too many "might be´s"

I would consider this as original replacement piece if it comes with a group and a clear story and documentation.

Plenty of fakes are "renamed" as 20ies or 57er wearers copies. Of course wearers copies were necessary but mostly the easy-to-damage enameled ones like the daily-worn plm, but this need everytime a glass clear documentation!

Best regards

Daniel

[JensF.]

I've got it with a picture-guerantee by Gunnar Stephan. He told me it is one of the last models made by Steinhauer between 1965 and 1975. The 57 crosses had never a ball suspension.

Here are clear scans. I like this cross with fine polished parts:

[JensF.]

Spiess, Dein Private-Message Ordner ist voll.

[Daniel Krause]

Hi Jens,

jetzt nicht mehr! Danke für den Tip!

[JensF.]

Keine Ursache.

What do you think about the scans?

[Daniel Krause]

Jens,

The scans look good. Obviously this is a relatively new cross, so maybe really a 57 replacement. But there is still a BUT. What is the price for such a piece? With these things there is not only a "I know", there is everytime also a "I believe" as long as no hard facts can prove it. You might get crap if it is a fake or You might get a rarity if it is real and S&L made only some hundred pieces.
I know S&L published catalogues in former times. I have only one for ribbon bars. Is it possible that somebody has one for medals?

Best regards

Daniel