Greek Medal for Outstanding Acts

[stray_dog]

Hi Tim! It can indeed become confusing, specially with this award!

It is not a navy version, the medal's design is the same for all branches. What replaced the royal symbols in the middle is the emblem of the National Defence General Staff since 1971 (called at that time Armed Forces HQ, renamed in 1977), with an ancient helmet superimposed on a pair of wings and an anchor, representing the 3 branches of the armed forces.

Regards, Giorgos

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PS: It looks like the armed forces here love the Iliad, since the motto on the shield above is quoted from it, meaning "always be the best" from "...always be the best and excel amongst the others, do not shame your ancestry..."
[Homer's Iliad Z 208-209]. The inscription on the medals for Military Merit and Outstanding Acts "1st type", "Defend the fatherland" comes again from the same saga: "One omen is best: Fighting to defend the fatherland" [M 243]. It's a long lasting love!

[Tim B.]

Hello Giorgos,

Thanks for an interesting lesson on a new area for me!
Tim

[stray_dog]

Hi Tim!

It's my pleasure, that's why are here, after all! Your photos of different makers were also really informative for me!

Regards, Giorgos

[Tim B.]

Likewise my friend! Many thanks for sharing!

I'll add some additional information shared with me from another collector at GMIC that is much more knowledgeable than I.

Here are some excerpts from a printed reference in regards to maker's and presented only the spirit of collecting and sharing knowledge:
Tim

[Tim B.]

And, another showing the different ribbon attachments authorized on these Medals for Miltary Merit.

I have to say thanks to "Kevin" for sharing that information.

Tim

[Tim B.]

I would like to add that, as I collect various pieces from the WW1 era and from several different countries, I find members did not always adhere to the strict regulations of what they should and should not place on their decorations.

Here are two separate cases where the attachments are contrary to regulations. In the first example, the suspension ribbon shows a palm where it should be a bronze wreath. In the second example, the ribbon bar has the small wreath denoting a 3rd class award, but should be a palm.

So, were there variations, yes. Authorized, ???

Tim

[stray_dog]

Hi Tim!

More great and helpful info! Thanks!

The reference you posted confirmed my suspicions, that there is actually no complete list of makers' names up to date. It looks like there are several unidentified makers and I don't know if there is a way of finding who they were after all these years.

The example I posted initiating this thread is the last pictured on your printed reference, referred to as "112.08b".

What is really interesting is the low quality of some makers. The non symmetrical features and die flaws of my example are really striking to the eye if someone pays some attention to detail. That kind of reference is IMO very important, since greek awards have started being faked. There's yet no evidence of that happening with medals for Military Merit and Outstanding Acts, but I guess that this is a matter of time. What might prove interesting and challenging with these, would be the effort of immitating these exact flaws. Then again, if we have good reference on our side, we will be able to enjoy our hobby in peace of mind!

Regarding the devices you posted, this is really interesting! The regulation would have it vice-versa: A palm leaf for the ribbon bar and the circular one for the medal. These "irregularities" can be observed from time to time, though. I think that the small size "non-regulation" devices for the ribbon bars come from miniature medals. The devices posted above were indicative of the Venizelist/Republican era, when royal symbols were out of use.

Later, the 1940 law on war medals predicted that the medal for Outstanding Acts would be a single-class award, with an unlimited possible amount of presentations to the same individual. These additional awards were to be denoted by 5mm wide silver coated crowns, with 3 of them being the maximum number permitted to be added on the ribbon, in a horizontal row.

I 'll post some pics of some examples tomorrow! Thanks again to you and to "Kevin" for the info!

Regards, Giorgos

[stray_dog]

Here are the pics I promised:

First, two different makers' 1940 medals. The left one is bearing the crown devices denoting two additional presentations. Note also the different "1940" bars and the ribbons' weaving.

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"2nd type" medals, made by Anagnostopoulos, with the left one bearing one crown.

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The Medal for Military Merit, which was still being awarded at the time, retained the Republic era devices.

Regards, Giorgos

[Tim B.]

Hey Giorgos,

I stumbled across that one medal I was talking about earlier with the unknown ribbon. Seems that I seen a similar ribbon on a Netherlands piece sometime back.

You can see the back is cut and the device (3rd class bronze wreath) appears to be sewn on this one.

Tim

[stray_dog]

Hi Tim!

That's interesting to see! It's clearly against regulation (and this does happen from time to time, for sure), and it looks like the original missing ribbon was replaced by a scrap piece of a similar available one, which doesn't match any greek ones that I know of. It looks like there's some wear to the ribbon, matching the device's and the medal's condition, but when it was replaced, is hard to say I guess...

Regards, Giorgos

[don_kihotis7]

Hey guys, do you know any website that sells Greek medals? Except ebay?

[stray_dog]

Hi!

I would suggest http://www.johns-military.gr, http://www.mpairaktaris.com and http://www.stratoudakis-collections.com. The latter doesn't have many items online, but if you contact him, he will surely have much more on offer. He actually is the author of the book posted above, with the reference to the different makers!

Best regards,
Giorgos

[don_kihotis7]

Hi!

I would suggest http://www.johns-military.gr, http://www.mpairaktaris.com and http://www.stratoudakis-collections.com. The latter doesn't have many items online, but if you contact him, he will surely have much more on offer. He actually is the author of the book posted above, with the reference to the different makers!

Best regards,
Giorgos

Great Giorgos, thanks man.
I know about him, i have purchased his book last year in order to educate my self regarding Greek medals.
It's very helpful, especially about prices and he also has photos of known fakes.

[NCO]

I'm pleased to see so much detail and information to everyones knowledge above.
I don't have any but interested now.
Need to learn first.
Cheers
nco