1939 Gold EK spange 2nd Class, Type 1

[emilitaria_usmc]

[ATTACH]676701[/ATTACH]

This early spange is colored gold.
Appears to be silver plated tombac with a gold paint or finish.
The gold has worn off the high points.
The back has no trace of gold but the edges do.
dimensions: 30.75 mm high x 30.9 mm wide
no maker's code
Is this a special class of spange or not?

[emilitaria_usmc]

Back of spange

reverse.jpg

There is only one set of prongs in the center of the back of the medal to attach to the ribbon.

[emilitaria_usmc]

close up of box

box_scalloped.jpg

only traces of the gold paint or finish remain on the date

[Darrell]

This is a very nice original 1st Pattern 2nd Class Spange

However, the goldish color is only patina not paint.

[Sonderkommando]

As Darrell said,
A nice first pattern spange, but you need to clean the gold paint off as it's not meant to be there.

Don't try and remove it from the ribbon if you can help it as chances are that the pins may break. Just fold the ribbon down out of the way and work slow and easy.


Cheers,
Brett

[Darrell]

As Darrell said,
A nice first pattern spange, but you need to clean the gold paint off as it's not meant to be there.

Don't try and remove it from the ribbon if you can help it as chances are that the pins may break. Just fold the ribbon down out of the way and work slow and easy.


Cheers,
Brett

Brett, you sure that's paint? I've seen patina turn yellowish like that before

[emilitaria_usmc]

Yes, it is paint

I just looked at it under 10x magnification and it is definitely some kind of paint.
It is not patina, tarnish, or oxidation.
It doesn't look like it was applied post war because how could it pick up the wear to take the paint off the high spots?
I bought this probably 25 yrs ago when these things could be bought pretty cheap. I can't remember if I got it from a vet or not.

zoom_head.jpg

here is a zoom in shot of the eagle - the worn high spots are silver, the low spots are gold.

[atcase]

Hi all,
could this be lacquer?? or hairspray which has rubbed off the high areas ??

Ashley

[Don D.]

If it is paint or lacquer it will come off with a Q-tip and some acetone with light rubbing. If it is patina it will stay the same.