Fake "Defense of" Campaign Medals

[CanCol]

Thanks for the quick reply. I had wondered about the casting as there appeared to be a casting edge on it. Also, the thickness, skewed suspension ring, minimal wear on the soldiers, and lack of crisp detail on the laurel leaves were a concern as well.

The lighthouse didn't concern me. In dealing with a good friend in Ukraine, his collector contacts reject many as the lighthouse is not worn enough. By their remarks, the lighthouse suffers the most due to wear and tear, virtually disappearing.

I never worry about the ribbon. It looked to be a red ink stain on it. Ribbons and hangers are most easily changed/faked on a medal with a cut suspension ring. For me, the real prize will be a REAL Odessa medal, with or without hanger.

Chalk this up to number 6 "Looks Good!"

[desantnik]

Black lead solder is a major no-go.

[T-34]

Hi gentlemen and possibly ladies :)

After a long time I come back "home" to this forum.... I confess I abandoned for a while my beloved hobby in soviet medals and orders due to their even more increased price and number of fakes in the market. Moreover best pieces come always or often from abroad.
Last few days I received an offer for an Odessa defence medal ....declared from seller as a Type 2 (ring as part of the medal... given to people in post-war period etc..). To my wallet the price for this medal looked good (I'm more a money expert rather than a medals expert hehe) but the medal itself seem not really a genuine one to me.

Odessa defence is the piece I miss to complete my collection !!! :(

I ask, kindly, some expert's opinion in this forum. The most striking things I noticed and didn't like to me in this piece are the gilding and the shape of the ring (the way it's part of the medal). Details of the soldiers pass in second place as the pictures are not so .... detailed. Could it be a so called Umalatova's edition ? or a fake from common market ?
MANY THANKS to anyone would help me or express an opinion.

[CtahhR]

Even with these exceptionally poor photographs I can tell it is certainly not an Umalatova. It mat very well be fake but certainly not an Umalatova.

I wouldn't consider buying anything from a seller that offers such poor pictures.

Walk away from this one, there will be more Odessas with better pictures and better prices in the future. Soviet Award prices are collapsing.

[Thomas Bendixen]

Hi, what do you think of this one?

Br Thomas

[CtahhR]

Apart from saying "Where is the lighthouse?", I would bet that measurements of this Medal will show it to be slightly smaller than in should be.

[USSR]

Hi Thomas,

Welcome to the forum!

These medals are faked badly and in good quality but I like what I see. Better pictures wouldn't heard though.

Originally Posted by CtahhR

Apart from saying "Where is the lighthouse?", I would bet that measurements of this Medal will show it to be slightly smaller than in should be.

I have seen many examples of these with the lighthouse barely visible. As we speak some reputable dealers have some in stock as example.

You might be right though since I find these very hard to examine. But let's wait till the measurement and detailed pictures come in.

This one for example

[Thomas Bendixen]

Thanks very much for the comments. I will ask the seller for measures + better pics, what details do you want enlarged? The whole medal?

BR Thomas

[USSR]

Originally Posted by Thomas Bendixen

Thanks very much for the comments. I will ask the seller for measures + better pics, what details do you want enlarged? The whole medal?

BR Thomas

Yes, the whole medal (not the suspension) both sides. Also the weight of the medal (without suspension) and the diameter.

[Shocktrooper]

Any comments concerning this Odessa - Medal ? ( ...except that the images are not very good, of course... but I can only present what others are able to send me :( )