WW1 Iron crosses 2nd class rarity

[Dansson]

Hello

I have recently grown a interest in WW1 iron crosses 2nd class.
Therefore I would like to have some help from my fellow collectors, is it possible if you would give according to your opinion a top 10/20 list of the rarest Makers in WW1?

I sencerly thank you all in advance for your great help!
best regards,
Daniel

[willcpfc]

I would always consider silver content marked ek2 as desirable. Especially 900+ content

That said, I don't think any makers would be very difficult to track down given how many got made. Perhaps like ww2 ek2, LDO marked examples would be considered rare.

[Dansson]

Thank you for this fast reply!

I have heard of AWS being rare and hard to find.
This is correct?

Best regards,
Daniel

[willcpfc]

Thank you for this fast reply!

I have heard of AWS being rare and hard to find.
This is correct?

Best regards,
Daniel

Yes they are a desirable cross, but again, you can find them without too much trouble. As I understand it, the 800 marked ek2 are the actual awarded pieces so for me, that gives them something a bit special.

It is a great area to collect. Lots of makers and almost all crosses at reasonable prices.

[Dansson]

Hello,
thank you once more for the fast reply!

Do you know anyone who is willing to sell an AWS 2nd class?
best regards,
Daniel.

[gregM]

This is always an interesting topic. ( do a forum search and you will find we have
discussed "rare" on a few occasions )

The silver stamped crosses are a lot more uncommon than the unmarked ones
but thet are not the awarded crosses. Almost all 1914 crosses are silver even
if not marked. The silver stamped ones were private purchase pieces.

IMO the rarest 1914 Ek2s would have to be the the black enameled core crosses,
both the polished and matt versions. (full sized and prinzen) . Then I would guess
that the LDO marked crosses followed by The Prinzen sized crosses. After that, I think
the high silver stamped crosses. (935,ect.)

It will be interesting to see what others think.

[gregM]

If you truly have an interest in collecting (not just investing in) iron crosses
then my advice to you is to collect the ones that YOU like. Not the ones
that someone else thinks you should have. If you buy the ones that "speak"
to you, you will get far more enjoyment out of your collection.

[ww1czechlegion]

By member gregM
If you truly have an interest in collecting (not just investing in) iron crosses
then my advice to you is to collect the ones that YOU like. Not the ones
that someone else thinks you should have. If you buy the ones that "speak"
to you, you will get far more enjoyment out of your collection.

I agree with Greg.

Best Wishes,

Alan

[streptile]

AWS EKs are not the rarest EKs out there, but they're not exactly common. You will find one after a couple weeks or months looking at dealers' sites. In my opinion they are definitely the nicest and most interesting, which is why I started focusing on them.

[juoneen]

So in the spirit of the moment post a few AWS versions...

[ww1czechlegion]

Here's a link to "Pinned: Imperial Reference Threads", found in the nice thread "A Study of Imperial Iron Crosses": http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=262157&page=2

Best Regards,

Alan

[morel5000]

This thread gives a list of "rare ek2":

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...&highlight=935

check it out!

[streptile]

I think Greg has given good advice.

Study them and discover which ones you really like.

Those are the ones you should collect












.

[Elmar Lang]

I understand that there are interesting variations, but to me an EK-II is just an EK-II.

After having found a fine specimen, I would do my next effort for a fine EK-I and upwards...

I know some collectors that, with the money spent for a lot of EK-II (1914-1939) could have bought some further, even rarer military awards.

Just my own opinion.

Same as in my field (Austro-Hungarian awards): some collectors "limit" themselves" to the same award (usually the MVK III Class with KD), looking for any possible maker/variation...

[Dansson]

I personally collect iron crosses for because I like collecting them, not for what they are worth.
What looks very nice, patina, specialities, variations, medalbars, paradmounts and so on.

Even if it is the good looks of the cross that usually inspires me to have the particular one,
we have 4 million crosses produceed, some forever lost in time, some buried with the heroes in the mud, some still in the hands of families and relatives and many out there for sale and aviable. And those crosses out there aviable are so many of, so it naturally interests me to know more precise what I might want to look after in the sea of crosses.

Aren't we all a bit interested in the rarer and the more special ones than just the regular, just because it is different and is in some way cathces the eye?

Best regards,
Daniel