Lee Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 Can anyone tell me worth and if its original as the ribbon don't look original because it's too clean I feel? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 I assume judging by the photos and not being a rare decoration, that it would be original. There are copies on the market. The ribbons on these decorations are usually clean and look unused, also the decorations usually turn up in good condition, as they were seldom worn, and there were a lot of unissued stocks at the end of the war. Prices would be about 40-60 depending on crispness, more with the original case, which should should have a gold impressed 40 at the front. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 Thank you Fritz, so you think this had a good chance that it wasn't even issued? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 Also could you please tell me about this 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 Looks ok to me. Made of zink with the remains of a gilt bronze finish. There may be a small number stamped into the ring for the manufacturer. On the reverse of the envelope may be the (matching) name of the manufacturer. I have a similar example directly from the veteran who earned it. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 OK so both look genuine to you? And merit of swords is real? Again I was suspicious by the cleaner ribbon and if it don't have a number on the ring you still think its genuine? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 They don't always have a number, but a number is always a bonus, as you then know the manufacturer. Not all ribbons are grubby. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 Hi Lee, both items look ok , please when you post an item could you name the item in the title rather than posting "is this real" otherwise the forum will get very confusing and difficult to search for items. In this case the title could be "Third Reich 40 year faithful service cross, original? " Thanks 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 Thank you Fritz. Both added to my collection now 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 My apologies Kenny, I'm not only new to this site but new to using forums altogether . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 No problem Lee 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted April 15, 2021 Author Share Posted April 15, 2021 Kenny, do the ribbons look original? And if they are not original.. Do they effect the value by alot? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 First ribbon is original, second ribbon impossible to say from the picture. The main value is in the medal , however always nice to get the original ribbon eventually. Medals with original ribbons will have a slight increase in value but not much. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted April 15, 2021 Author Share Posted April 15, 2021 Thanks Kenny.. Much appreciated 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr bridger Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 First ribbon is ok as Kenny already said 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted April 16, 2021 Author Share Posted April 16, 2021 But the second one not so much? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted April 17, 2021 Share Posted April 17, 2021 The medal is very worn, but the ribbon is very new, impossible to say because of the quality of the picture. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 The ribbon is original. There are different widths of ribbons, the issued ribbons were ca. 30mm wide, some of the replacement ribbons are narrower, around 25mm or slightly more, these are also usually original, were intended for mounting the medals on a bar. However, most decorations of this type were only worn for the first day of the award, they hung from the second buttonhole on the tunic, thereafter just the ribbon was worn, so a medal should not show much wear. Your example is of zink, mid to late war, which loses it's finish within 40-50 years and appears grey with light oxidation, quite normal. Of course, most of these ribbon types are also available as reproductions, and cost a bit less, finding original spare ribbons has become more difficult and expensive. This was how a decoration was worn: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesT Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Both are good and I think both ribbons are good too 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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