Fake Defense of Campaign Medals

[Tal Inbar]

I saw it today on ebay, and altough the seller is quite reliable, the medal seems a little less detailed and the conecting ring is slightly off-center.

Also, at the bottom of the medal there is no distinct boundary between the ribbon and star and the edge of the medal:

[Tal Inbar]

From the reverse, the medal look very strange - the writting is uneaven, and there are some marks like "pock-marks" - is it a cast copy?

[Art]

Hmmm, I'm leaning towards authentic..details look crisp for the most part ( see the sickle details on the reverse ), ring looks correct, some uneven discoloration but nothing I would say is that bad. Suspension looks correct, nice even patina on the plate, although this is of course an easy thing to make look correct. If it's cast it's a nice one.

Art

[Chris]

I think its OK

The light house is fading which is common I have found tjis with these awards if they have been cleaned alot.

I have seen this badge faked.

It is very crisp in detail but copper colour..at least the copy I have seen

I have tried to get the street dealer to tell me where they come from....but its a definate trade secret....he just clams up.....he told me it was a fake after I told him so..er they insist then its a copy however, but charge a real time price...um

Chris

[Nota Bene]

Two examples of moderan fakes production - Medals for Defense of Leningrad and Liberation of Warsaw. Both fakes are very detailed and have correct dimensions, but they are coined of some light-weight alloy, and the ring is crudely attached. The bad guys are getting better!

[Nota Bene]

Just thought I'd let everyone know, that recently I have seen another bunch of them.

Alexei

[new world]

Alexei,

I just don't get this: these two medals are not expensive at all and the real ones cost just few dollars in Russia.

How is it economically feasible for these two to go through the trouble of making the fake medal, buying suspension, buying the ribbons and assembling the medals? How much profit can you make by selling these fakes?

It makes sense to fake expensive awards, but these ones - it's the same as faking the $5 bills...

[mcwirsk]

I agree ... why fake such a cheap medal. It makes no real sense becuase the dies etc will have cost more than the reward.

The question I ask is that surely stocks of these medals run out and new medals must be stuck every few years. Is it possible that these are a new batch??? from official sources.

???

regards

Munroe

[Chris]

It does not make sense: I agree: I have stopped asking that question about any subject here in the East: Everything is normal is an adequate/usual response and both a baffling answer:

I cannot understand why any body should fake a 4 dollar medal that is bought as such in th east and sold for 3 dollars in the west and sold for 20 dollars on the internet.....er....perhaps I'm the one whom does not understand......

I won't bother to understand it.

My head hurts

Chris

[Art]

Depends on how much they make them for. Suppose I can make 50,000 for fifty U.S. cents each, then sell them in groups of 50 to dealers for $2.00 each...sounds like a good scam to me..