I think indeed it is genuine, you left Jaques not long before I bought this. Thats a story for another day
Frank has one exactly the same in bronze in a grouping from a Naval guy (you must have seen it Jaques when you went to Franks) Frank and I held the two together......I don't think theres any doubt as to originality on this one. Well, that is, it's my firm belief that it's genuine, if only from one other example of Franks.
I've other pics of these crosses in my files ,in gold, silver and bronze with or without swords, but not from my collection. I can't share them without owners permission.
Alikn- I checked Niemann's Guide. The hardware is similar but not exactly the same on Marcus' badge. The Cross in Niemann's Guide does, it would appear, have exactly the same type of hardware as Jacque's example; A shorter, heavier pin, and a tighter fit to the hinge.
Marcus-I checked the thread with Frank's Badge in it. Only some of the images remain, so I couldn't really check 'his against yours', as thoroughly as I would have liked to. I also looked at Stefan's EK, with similar styled hinge and catch. I concur wholeheartedly, your's is very similar. The long thin pin on yours, as I stated earlier, looks very cheaply made. That does not, by default, necessarily make the badge bad. I would still like to see a close-up of the sword hilts, the eagles, and the solder joints to the arms? What made you say in your opening paragraph, that you thought the badge could be a potential fake?
Still open to other comments, and examples from other owners who have this style Spanish Cross. Gotta get off the PC, the Lady here is starting to get annoyed......
Mark
"You can check out any time you like ..... But you can never leave....."
Here are better pics of Marcus' Cross I made while he was here. I have no doubts that this cross is original.
Marcus was only confused because the dealer, a known "specialist" selling fakes as originals had this cross offered as a "likely" fake and therefore had it priced relatively low! I would have it in my collection any day.
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