Afrika DAK Medal - Italian / German Joint Service

[scurv13]

Recently picked up this Afrika DAK Italian/German Medal from a dealer and obviously have a few doubts in regards to the authenticity of it. The dealer offers a lifetime return policy so I am in no rush and was hoping a few of you guys could chime in and let me know if my suspicions are correct.

I have issues with the following details:

1. The sides show an obvious casting mark. I know german medals do not have these but this medal was made in Italy. Do these usually have a casting mark?

2. The metal just does not look right. Looks like a white metal and not zinc.

3. The ribbon is suspiciously clean and minty.

4. The MM lettering seems to be offset and done "by hand". I know it is normally on the left side but it seems that sometimes the mid war period ones had it on the right side too depending on the maker.

Afrika DAK Medal - Italian / German Joint Service

[scurv13]

More pIcs

[Hille76]

Not a good one.

Regards
Timo

[Tom Yanacek]

Not good!

I agree. A cast fake for sure.

Best regards,
Tom

[Woolgar]

Awful detail ! A cast fake for sure

Nick

[scurv13]

Awful detail ! A cast fake for sure

Nick

Do we know how these Italian made medals were actually manufactured? Is it possible that their standards were not as demanding as the Germans and the casted and stamped? Besides this, the lettering really seems different than the others I have seen.

Hopefully a few others will chime in and then I will make a trip to see the dealer tomorrow to hand it back in.

[Bruce Simcox]

Hi scurv13......

......Do yourself a favor, take the trip, and return it to the seller. As the others before me have said: It's a bad one!

[scurv13]

......Do yourself a favor, take the trip, and return it to the seller. As the others before me have said: It's a bad one!

When I bought the medal, I told the dealer I would be back for sure in a few days after posting it on the forum. He wasn't sure if it was a fake or not and of course has no problem taking it back. I will be fine there.

The main reason I bought it was so I could research it a bit and post it here on the forum. Kinda "learning the ropes" on how to post items here. I have usually been just a "lurker" on the forum but stepped up today and beacame a member.

Thanks much for the input!

Dave

[Jody]

DAK Medal

Hello,
I am sorry, but the medal is bad (as already stated). You can compare to my example and you will see a night and day difference.

Regards,
Jody

[Raffaello Carola]

agree it is a bad copy... in these pictures another repro much better
note: the the name of sculptor (De Marchis) is engraved and not in relief.
cheers
Raffaello

[Tom Yanacek]

Do we know how these Italian made medals were actually manufactured? Is it possible that their standards were not as demanding as the Germans and the casted and stamped? Besides this, the lettering really seems different than the others I have seen.

Hopefully a few others will chime in and then I will make a trip to see the dealer tomorrow to hand it back in.

These medals were die-struck with a heavy press. The detail should be crisp and there should not be pockmarks in the surface of the medal nor seams around the medal's rim. These are sure signs of a casting and it spells doom for a medal such as this. IMO, the quality of Italian medals was up to par with medals produced in Germany.

Best regards,
Tom

[scurv13]

These medals were die-struck with a heavy press. The detail should be crisp and there should not be pockmarks in the surface of the medal nor seams around the medal's rim. These are sure signs of a casting and it spells doom for a medal such as this. IMO, the quality of Italian medals was up to par with medals produced in Germany.

Best regards,
Tom

I agree completely with your opinion. Very obvious. I was however interested in IF the Italians manufacturing process was up to par with the Germans. Your expert opinion has helped clarify that indeed they WERE making decent items.

Thanks again to all that have contributed to this discussion!

[Raffaello Carola]

These are sure signs of a casting and it spells doom for a medal such
as this. IMO, the quality of Italian medals was up to par with medals
produced in Germany.
Best regards,
Tom

of course the medal was produced by Lorioli factory in Milan (today still exist)
one of the most famous factories of medals and enamel pins, with superb details
of costruction; exist three models original of this medal with the sculptor name
engraved, in relief and another type (imho) produced in Germany without name
of factory and sculptor. The medal exist in bronze and in zamac.
In photo three types, two italian and one german.
In the second photo comparison of two medals in zamac italian production
and german.
cheers
Raffaello

[Raffaello Carola]

an interesting threads about this medal:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...%27paign+medal
the comparison of the two type (Lorioli production) relief and engraved
name.
cheers
Raffaello

[hlynur76]

Hi.

Your Italian/German Campaign medal is very similar to my medal that I returned for refund.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ghlight=afrika