Posted 12 years ago
pickingupb…
(197 items)
Iron Cross brought back from WW II by my Uncle. The Iron Cross medal was first created during the Napoleonic wars in 1813. Designed by Karl Fredrich Schinkle with an Oak Leaf sprig in the center and 1813 on lower arm and the Royal Cipher FW on upper arm. Reverse was blank and blank side worn out. Only given in war times it was altered in 1870 and The Royal Cipher W was added to the blank(front) and crown on upper arm and date 1870 on lower arm. In 1914 the date of 1870 was changed to 1914. They used silver for the trim in some and iron in the center. They are being reproduced but not with a an iron center so a simple magnet test should be made prior to purchasing. This one passed the test( got lucky) Thanks for looking
The iron center can usually be moved a bit within the frame.
Don't rule out all non-magnetic cores as fakes, some crosses were made with a core not made of iron, and others were made as a single piece! In addition to that, there are many (many many) fakes out there that DO (in fact) have iron cores. Do not let that be your only guide.
In any case, do your research before buying something like this. That, or get it direct from a vet, like you did!
Anyway, nice! Love me a good EKII
"The 1914 Iron Cross Second Class pieces are generally found to be of fairly high quality manufacture with the exception of some solid brass one piece castings made in the later part of the war. The size was standardized at around 42mm, but many smaller 'Prinzen' sizes were also made. Early specimens were manufactured with a genuine silver frame, and the ribbon suspension rings on these pieces are normally found to be marked with the '800' or ;900' silver hallmark." - The Iron Cross; a history 1813-1957 by Gordon Williamson
Williamson goes on to write under his description of the Iron Cross First Class "Towards the end of World War One, as materials became scarce, the general quality of the Iron Cross deteriorated, with silver plate being used in place of real silver, and various alloys in place of the iron centre. One piece strikings are also known from this period."
Thanks chris for the input. I read a lot of the info before posting.Uncle must have picked it up as a souviner when he was in WWII
Thanks Dr Rambow. I value all info from this site. Money brings a lot of fakes in highly collected items.
thanks a lot militirist for the info.
Thanks a lot trunkman and bratjjd
Thank you timbaran for the love
TALmiKKo