LuftStalg1 Posted February 6, 2019 Share #1 Posted February 6, 2019 This group of medal recently sold at auction for a nice chunk of change. I am curious about the engraving though, it just seems off to me. The Soldiers medal and Bronze Star look reasonable well done but the Purple Heart looks pretty bad, like a practice piece or owner self engraved piece. Maybe the PH was added to the set? IDK I am still trying to educate myself with engraving styles so would like to hear anyone’s thoughts on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted February 6, 2019 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Posted February 6, 2019 Share #3 Posted February 6, 2019 I am not as versed on Soldier’s Medals, but I don’t like the BSM engraving either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted February 6, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted February 6, 2019 I am not as versed on Soldier’s Medals, but I don’t like the BSM engraving eitAll All three look different, and I see what you mean. Maybe the PH was the first attempt at engraving then the Bronze star was the second attempt at engraving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Posted February 6, 2019 Share #5 Posted February 6, 2019 What is interesting is that the format of the PH engraving is what you would expect to see on an Air Medal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted February 7, 2019 Share #6 Posted February 7, 2019 I am not liking them ! looks like the engraving has been artificially aged ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMariner Posted February 7, 2019 Share #7 Posted February 7, 2019 I also saw these and was rather curious! Thanks for posting I will be curious to see what people say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted February 7, 2019 Share #8 Posted February 7, 2019 At best privately engraved. At worst engraved to deceive. Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete-o MSU Posted February 7, 2019 Share #9 Posted February 7, 2019 I thought the soldiers medal looked ok to me. The other two definitely private at best or added to deceive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapper23 Posted February 7, 2019 Share #10 Posted February 7, 2019 Can you send me the auction and price infomation. I will check my Soldier's Medal roster. Never seen that much green in the engraving without more on the brooches. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted February 7, 2019 Can you send me the auction and price infomation. I will check my Soldier's Medal roster. Never seen that much green in the engraving without more on the brooches. Jeff I don't remember what auction, I just saved them to my PC. I think it was around $700 for the lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decwriter Posted February 7, 2019 Share #12 Posted February 7, 2019 The SM looks legit, but without a doubt, the BSM and PH are privately engraved. The "C" and "L" handiwork on those two are not in line with the standard engraving on air corps medals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 7, 2019 Share #13 Posted February 7, 2019 I agree with the earlier posters...the SM is fine, and looks officially engraved. The others are privately engraved. I have no heartburn with the group, unless it's been passed off as a posthumous Purple Heart. If it's being sold as a WIA one, it's just fine in my book, and it looks like the person had a jeweler attempt to duplicate the engraving style on the SM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 7, 2019 Share #14 Posted February 7, 2019 And just for educational purposes, "AC", "INF", "FA", "OSS", or whatever were NEVER engraved on officially engraved Purple Hearts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 7, 2019 Share #15 Posted February 7, 2019 and a quick google search brought up the auction. Couple things to point out: 1. From the auction photos, it's very obvious this is not a posthumous group as some of his discharge paperwork from August 1945 is photographed in the item description. If the group isn't posthumous and the engraving looks "odd"...there's really no "ground truth" for saying the engraving is good or not as it could be official, but more often than not, it's privately done. Maybe the vet had it done in 1945 when he got home...maybe he had it done in 1980. Know one will really know for sure and there's no "engraving styles" to be learned when it comes to private engraving. 2. This is why it's better to add in the context into the initial question. I'm sure some people automatically thought this was supposed to be a posthumous group, and then wound themselves up over the engraving...when in reality...see my above point. 3. There's a ton of paper with the group...I would venture to bet that the GO for these awards are probably in there and chances are, this is probably a pretty nice group. The $550 hammer price (plus whatever the auction fees were) probably wasn't too far out of the ballpark for all that's here. My two cents... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 7, 2019 Share #16 Posted February 7, 2019 Of course, had I read the top description fully, I would have noted that the onion skin for the BSM is there, and the newspaper article has the full citation for the SM as well. The newspaper article also goes on to note that he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star...so it wraps up this group very nicely. Overall, a nice group from the CBI. Nothing to complain about or question at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermanus Posted February 10, 2019 Share #17 Posted February 10, 2019 Dave and others, thanks for the education. Regards Herman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share #18 Posted February 10, 2019 Yes, thanks all for the opinions and information. I had not thought of the paperwork as I was too focused on the terrible PH engraving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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