African Campaign Medal

[chahler]

I just found this medal , its looks like original to me , but like always i will appreciate your opinion
Thanks
John

[Tom Yanacek]

Hi John,

This looks to me like an original "type 5" as shown in Antonio's classification from the thread linked below.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=664314

Best regards,
Tom

[chahler]

Thank You Tom

[Antonio Scapini]

I agree, it is a Souval original medal.

[chahler]

Thank you Antonio

[Gardereiter]

I was always told that this particular Souval medal was a post-war manufacture. If so, should it be counted as an "original" medal, even if it was made for veterans of the Africa campaign?

In any case, the quality of the zinc casting is extremely poor. It looks more like a cheap, modern casting made in Taiwan than something made in Vienna. Not really a piece I would care to display in my collection.

[Antonio Scapini]

I was always told that this particular Souval medal was a post-war manufacture. If so, should it be counted as an "original" medal, even if it was made for veterans of the Africa campaign?

Post war medals are post war medals, not "originals".

About the rest of your statement I can only say that it seems to me you missed the last 3-4 years of research about this medal.
PS: until 3-4 years ago no one knew this medal was produced from Souval.
PS2: after the war Souval sold his die to Steinhauer & Luck for the production of '57 type...

In any case, the quality of the zinc casting is extremely poor. It looks more like a cheap, modern casting made in Taiwan than something made in Vienna. Not really a piece I would care to display in my collection.

If you base you criteria on evaluation of the base metal I think you will consider all the Bandenkampfabzeichen as fakes; they are thousand times worse than Souval Afrikamedaille.

PS: there's a (IMO) nice book on the subject, I suggest to have a look at it if you can/want.

[chahler]

Post war medals are post war medals, not "originals".

About the rest of your statement I can only say that it seems to me you missed the last 3-4 years of research about this medal.
PS: until 3-4 years ago no one knew this medal was produced from Souval.
PS2: after the war Souval sold his die to Steinhauer & Luck for the production of '57 type...


If you base you criteria on evaluation of the base metal I think you will consider all the Bandenkampfabzeichen as fakes; they are thousand times worse than Souval Afrikamedaille.

PS: there's a (IMO) nice book on the subject, I suggest to have a look at it if you can/want.