DK in gold: Opinions ?

[Bill D.]

I am planning to offer this for sale, and 1957 awards are not my area.
I want to be certain that I describe it accurately.
Can it be said to be an "early" piece?
Any possibility of original components?
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!

[Bill D.]

I was using some bright lights for the photos, so the piece looks a lot "shinier" than it actually is.

[Bill D.]

Two more.....

[SprogCollector]

The 1957 Awards section of the forum will be your best bet. These are a specialized collecting area unto themselves. While clearly the earlier-made examples are generally of much higher quality, these were not made to any particular specification nor was there any government involvement with their production beyond the 1957 Ordengesetz which mandated the removal of NSDAP symbols.

[Seewolf]

Hi Bill,

for sure you can call this a very early one! Is that a wide pin?
From what i see you show us a very early S&L in light version (Cupal backplate)

By now very rare and hard to find. An excellent and wonderful piece in stunning condition

[Bill D.]

Thank you very much for your thoughts.
I appreciate them very much !

[Matthieu]

Lovely piece .... seems indeed to be an early wide pin S&L made example .... certainly a piece that would fit into my collection .

Any chance you can post a side shot of both the hinge and catch ???

[Bill D.]

Again, thank you gentlemen.

It's been a long time since I have dealt with German awards.
I forgot that things such as the width of the pin, the hinge, and the catch, can all be significant.

I'll try to get some good pictures tonight and post them here tomorrow.

Many thanks again!

[Guardian 5]

Bill - I'm a day late and a dollar short as always, but needless to say, moving this thread from my patch over at the BRD Forum to the experts here was certainly the right call.

I'll bow out now and let these gentlemen do what they do best.

Take good care - TJ

[Bill D.]

I haven't yet had a chance to do additional photos, but I checked and this piece does indeed have a wide pin.

[Seewolf]

I haven't yet had a chance to do additional photos, but I checked and this piece does indeed have a wide pin.

Just as i expected, Bill

A very early S&L in light version.
Wonderful piece

[Mike Yokum]

That's a highly collectable and early S&L beauty Bill! Congrats!