SS 8 year in question

[Yuri D.]

Reverse

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Yuri,

Thank you for the additional pics. I think this piece is original as confirmed by the your second posting of pics. I would have no problem having this piece in my collectiion.

While this piece may stray somewhat with the RZM mark, the other deatils show province.

As far as contempoary reference material, I certainly think it is a must; but is only a piece of the puzzle. Experience, research and common sense and places like this site really help to fill the void. In the end it will be the consenes of our peers that will ultimately bring all these pieces to the puzzle together and summit the final verdict.

A piece such as this falls into that void so to speak and thus is left to the collector to way the facts and intuition.

JD

[keifer kahn]

Merdock,
The new pics(closeups)you have posted that show in detail,tell me 100% that you have a genuine 8yr.The finish is spot on ,and in the first closeup,I detect at the top of the wreath ,a quite discernible green raised spot.This is typical age spotting for this type of medal.The stipling is correct,and i was correct in assuming the original scans were suppressing the detail.Also the closer shots show the colour of the base bronze,one point i look for and also repros dont get near.You can also see the characteristic solder runoff reference the attachment of the jump ring.Looks like a fine aged example.I wouldnt have a problem having it in my collection!

Yuri,
I hope you do find out for sure wether or not the your medal is original.I dont like it because it just doesent take me where my research has led me.I do hope that if variants exist,that we can all gain valuable knowledge by these coming to light.I personally am a bit rigid in my attitude to collecting because i find the only way to maintain authenticity in my collection is analyze as much reliable information as possible,handle as many considered originals as possible,and apply all that to my interpretation of pieces.Variants i only consider if they are known and documented.
I personally have a variant EK2.This is outside the normal considered standard.It is 45mm as opposed to the standard 44mm .But this type even though a variant,is known and documented,so that is acceptable by me.
Im sure in time the true mystery of this type,if it is real, will come to light,and i hope im there like you guys,to learn a bit more.

Hope everyone on the forum has a good new year.

And joseph,reference finishes,the 8 yr also came in a darker chocolate brown as well as the more common lighter caramel.

regards Keifer

[merdock]

Hi Keifer,
Thanks for the reply this was onther of my old collection purchasers had it approx 20 years.
Still have a lot to post.
Merdock

[merdock]

Hi,
Yuri on your medal it has 6 bands on the ribbon tie not 5 like mine,i remember once reading about this but i can not remember were,
Merdock

[Tony Barto]

Gentlemen;

If I may, please take a very good, hard look at the bottom half of the number 8 about level where the runes sit on the reverse of Merdocks medal. Take a very good look at the arms of the number 8, notice how they curve, please note the width of the arms on both sides and tell me what you see. I have noticed this little detail characteristic on every original I have ever encountered. I have NEVER seen this on a repro but now that I let it out I'm sure I will but we are all here to share and learn. Once you've discovered what I'm referring to, apply the same principle to the others that are posted here for comparison.

[CRAIGGOODWIN]

My 8 year for comparision

Here is mine, sorry only pic I have at present
Regards

[Yuri D.]

Tony,

It's wider on the left side.

Yuri

[keifer kahn]

Tony,I have a repro that has the exact same bottom 8 width characteristic.
I can send you some snaps if you like.

regards keifer

[Tony Barto]

Yuri;

You're absolutely right. Notice on the others currently posted that this characteristic does not exist. Obviously this is one key point to use in conjunction with the other key points already noted here. If all the key points are not there I do not go any further with the medal.

Keifer;

Most interesting. Yes, if you would please, post them here on the forum so we all can see it. Any idea when it was made or when you picked it up? Please post pix of the reverse, obverse, ring and eyelit.

Best,

Tony

[merdock]

Hi ,
I never noticed it before, also the bottom of the 8 is wider and flatter on the inside .

Merdock

[prorege1]

SS 8 years

Here is mine for comparison - identical wider part on the lower left of the ''8''.

Happy new year to you all!

[prorege1]

SS 8 years reverse

And the reverse

[Tony Barto]

Nice ones, Craig and prorege1.

[Yuri D.]

This detail holds true for this particular manufacturer, but does not for the Ochs & Bonn medal.

Yuri