AFRIKA Medal Discussion

[Darrell]

Hi all,

As a side track to the Memel thread opened earlier, I pose the following. Below find three different "Styles" of Afrika Medal that can be found floating around on dealers sites.

I'd really appreciate some open discussion as to what Style is considered original and why? It seems (much like the Memel medals) there is varying opinions as to what is real and what isnt.

It may be of special interest (like Frank's father's medal) to see what characteristics based on attributed pieces bring to the forefront.

I am seriously considering purchasing one of these, but it seems everyone is 50/50 what is ok and what is not.

Thanks.

[Darrell]

Ok .... first two types that I see:

Note that the main difference between Type 1 and 2 is the size of the tower and whether it touches the top of the rim.

Type 1 Tower touches rim
Type 2 Tower does not

[Darrell]

And the Third Type:

This particular Type has the Maker Marks to the right of the figurines on the pendant.

Is this a variant? Some feel these are reproductions.

[Al P]

I would like to get to the bottom of this subject as well and here is a link to a thread I started awhile ago showing the different maker marks of the 3(?) types

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?lengthedit.africa

Al

[Colorado]

Well here is mine from the Memel thread. It is Vet acquired, so I am pretty comfortable with it and it is the kind that does not touch the rim. I don't know these medals real well, but the finish, the glare, the ribbons on 90% I see, put me off.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.net/foru...5&page=2&pp=15

[mrg]

Hi Darrell, whilst on my travels i have come across aleast another TWO types but unfortunately have no pics. One type is very similar to your type 1 but without the tie band at the bottom of the tower sitting on the rim. It fits just inside and the rim is visible but still looks a little cramped. The other type i have come across you can visibily see the right hand leg of the gladiator standind behind the one at the front(hopes this makes sense). I will not say what my thoughts are on these. However i will say that i am not keen on the mm to the right. They are highly uncommon and have just started appearing over the last few years. These type threads are differcult to keep going and burn out quite quickly.All the best

[Colorado]

When medals in numbers that gather notice start appearing never before seen, that is a red flag. Like other medals the best way is to take each example and assess individually and does it conform to examples that are:

1. Seen in Period photos
2. Seen in Period documentation
3. Same as Direct Vet purchases or with rock solid provenance

Buying from a reputable dealer is not evidence. If not, then they are to be doubted until they are thoroughly vetted. I don't think these are any more tough than other medals, just have not been discussed enough.

Mine fits into catagory 3. However, for the purposes here, would everyone consider the one I posted on the link above be an accepted original?

[mrg]

Hi Jeff are you saying that the mm is on the right?. All the best.

[Colorado]

Mine does not have a maker mark.

[Al P]

Afrika medal on medal bars

I know some of you out there have these on medal bars. It might help the discussion if some pics of the types used on bars were posted here.


Al

[Darrell]

Just to add a little fuel to the fizzling fire here

I found this 2 1/2 page information packet in one of those "Collector Guide" series booklets. Here is the section on the Afrika medal. Now I dont know how the expertise of this particular author is viewed among the forum ... but interesting none-the-less. He does mention the bronze / silvered versions as well as the dimensions of the medals and the maker marks .. A good read anyway.

Oh ... the book is called :

A Collector''s Guide To:

German World War 2
Medals and Political Awards
The Satellite States
by: Christopher Ailsby

[fran1942]

yes far too many people assume that buying from a "reputable dealer" means that everything they sell is without a shred of doubt original.
That is most definitely not the case. Trust me.
Rely on your own research and fellow collector comments.
ALL DEALERS are trying to make as much money as possible. Being a "reputable" dealer should only be valued as a part of your decision making process.

[Bruce Simcox]

Here's......

......a close-up of the controversial mm on my Afrika meda.,

Still need to practice on image quality. I will repost a bit later.
Ok......here's what I have been able to accomplish to this point. When I get it all figured out correctly(with the scanner) I will repost the clearer images as I am able to. I hope this helps a bit. Sorry the quality isn't as good as I know it can get but I'm still working with, what for me, is a new medium.

@AL P: I hadn't forgotten your request for bigger images......


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Bruce

[Bruce Simcox]

Close-up......

......mm. Some improvement:

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[Darrell]

For what it's worth I think that there existed good Afrika medals with mm on both sides. The details and quality are too good not to be so