Ostfrontmedaille-can it get any better!

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Peter,

Not bad Peter at all, I've a few on a level par, are you sure though this hasn't been repainted at all ? It's not the excellent condition it's in but the finish and texture of the silver that makes me a little suspect perhaps ??

I would like to echo Marcus' concerns and would investigate the silver finish some more, just to be sure. Not that examples in this condition cannot be found ( I have one myself), but the texture and colour and the way it was applied looks a bit suspect.

[Peter J.]

Ahh, the Hawkeye brothers . Right on target, the shiny colour had me concerned when I first laid my eyes on it. It resembles the nuance seen on the image below, part of a painting I made 30 years ago. The shiny effect on the waves was made by stirring the paint properly and on the ship by letting the substances descend to the bottom, giving it a paler nuance. As seen on the image, the waves feature a "grainy" appearance, but it's hard to tell whether it's the same on the medal. It can as easily be the result of the zinc reacting to the colour.
The application of the colour, I assume these are manually painted and I'm not quite sure what to expect in terms of accuracy. Knowing how some of the KM badges look like, this is a Da Vinci . I'm all ears to your opinions as to how we gonna solve this "problem".

KR
Peter

[Russellh]

Peter,

This one shows a similar paint effect. MM19.

Russell.

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Peter,

You can solve it the brutal way. Put Acetone to it. If it stays, it is real, if it goes it was repainted.

[Peter J.]

Sounds rough, but what the heck, drugstore first thing in the morning. Will get back with the outcome.

KR
Peter

[Inspector Krogh]

I myself have been searching for that elusive "just right" Ostmedaille for many years, although not with much vigor.
(One just like Phillippe's would be perfect... Hint Hint)!

All kidding aside...

There seems to be a spate of these "minty" medals lately and I took the bait on one. I have had my doubts about the finish on it since I got it.........somewhat similar to Peter's, but not exactly the same either.

I must photograph it first, but as Swedes must stick together these days, I can't let Peter sacrifice his virgin to the Gods all alone. I too will see what happens to mine with the acetone test.


G.

[Peter J.]

Greg, hold your horses for a minute . I've been doing some testing and the results are a somewhat strange. Before putting them up here, I need to think this through. Frank, I'll send you an e-mail later on today.

KR
Peter

[münster]

Sold to a fellow forum member,,Best one I have ever seen. 65 marked

[hagwalther]

Far be it for me to dip my fly into everyones tub of ointment here but I think we should possibly consider the medal shown in posts #1 and #2 to be a fake.

The obverse shows a badly formed helmet ventilation hole without clear definition i.e. it is not that hollow and the detail of the leaf over the sword is also not that defined.

All this together with a dubiuos finish leave me with some doubts.

Check out Philippe DB obverse example in post #11 and the differences are most apparent.

Regards ...

[Inspector Krogh]

Greg, hold your horses for a minute . I've been doing some testing and the results are a somewhat strange. Before putting them up here, I need to think this through. Frank, I'll send you an e-mail later on today.

KR
Peter

Peter,
Horses are held!
G.

[Scott C.]

Thanks Munster

Scott

[Peter J.]

No worries mate, this one is up for scrutiny and if it turns bad, so be it. The vent-hole and the feather might be a problem, but I'm more concerned about the sharp edge on the helmet, visible on the right hand reverse. As for the main issue, the freakin paint came off The search of the Holy Grail continues .

Greg, should you open the door to the stable, be gentle

Marcus and Frank, I owe you some booze

KR
Peter

[Peter J.]

For interested parties, here's the result of the brutal test

KR
Peter

[Pascal H.]

I don't know but this looks like wartime paint to me.

[Inspector Krogh]

Pascal,
The paint on the medal.....or on the Q-Tip?????

G.