A strange ostmedaille

[Steelman]

This Ostmedaille is quite strange.
Construction look original war time, but that the first time i see one like this.
On the back, an metal circle is attached, and soldered (was).
The engraving "winterschlacht im osten 1941/42 is really weird, almost look like hand made.
The suspension ring is steel, not brass.

I don't think it's a modern copy. So what it is A prototype?

[Aiceman]

I think we have the medal with cca good front side,and with handmade reverse side. When the maker had mold only from the front side.
To me suspicious piece,but I have only few ostmedal.

[bytown]

Good front, homemade reverser.

Back blank to start with. Never stamped.

Wayne

[bytown]

.

[rommelius2]

Very interesting...never seen that before!
Imo hardware looks ok as front too.

Need to research for the manufacturer of this OM, and when they started manufacturing the OM's.
But only my opinion.
Or maybe manufacturing failure?
Who knows, let see what other more experienced fellows say .....

regards Peter

[Steelman]

A pity no maker number on ring.
Construction is uncommon at least, as i never saw soldered ring on the back, or perhaps it part of a failed manufacturing process as you mentioned.
But you have to take in count the crude engraving. Why the engraving is so bad?
And what is the point to manufacture those medals? They would be rejected by the army. (also the suspension ring in steel)

My feeling those are first strikes, used to test and correct the manufacturing process. That could explain why engraving do not to be perfect, and the outer ring fell out: Manufacturing test.

Let's see what other have to say.

Very interesting...never seen that before!
Imo hardware looks ok as front too.

Need to research for the manufacturer of this OM, and when they started manufacturing the OM's.
But only my opinion.
Or maybe manufacturing failure?
Who knows, let see what other more experienced fellows say .....

regards Peter

[VonPeter]

Interesting piece...

The iron ribbon ring is not a problem.
Front looks good except for the handle of the handgranate that is a little sloppy but that is nothing to wine about considering the reverse.

[Steelman]

So what to think about it?

[Woolgar]

Very interesting! keep it as an unusual original

Nick

[Tiger88]

Could it have been in a fire? Or lying backside down on something really hot?

Just a theory.

//Thomas

[-Decerf-]

It looks very black at the backside to me so I would also think this was at one time in some sort of fire ast Tiger88 mentioned before ???