|
vBClassified Featured Listings | ||
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
10-14-2005, 04:50 PM | #1 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Age: 50
Posts: 153
|
Gold Star "Hero Of The People's Republic Of Bulgaria".
Does anyone have any updates on possible fakes in the Bulgarian field? I just bought a Bulgarian Hero Star and wondering about authenticity.
(will post details about it tomorrow) Quote:
__________________
Matthijs P. |
|
10-14-2005, 07:04 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Illinois - U.S.A.
Age: 46
Posts: 1,023
|
I'm collecting Bulgarian awards as well.
It seems that there is still a pretty good supply and it's just not financially viable to copy any award where most are under $25!!! Rusty.
__________________
"Be civil to all, sociable to many, familiar with few, friend to one, enemy to none." Benjamin Franklin ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Member #193 |
10-14-2005, 08:51 PM | #3 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Shediac, New Brunswick
Age: 68
Posts: 99
|
Hello Guys,
As of this time I have yet to see any faking of any Bulgarian awards. As Rusty mentions there is little point to it as the awards outnumber the collectors for the time being. There were over 100 different awards issued by the People's Republic of Bulgaria and at least 75 to 80 % of tham are relatively easy to find at quite decent prices. I do not know of "fake" Hero Stars I can however tell you that each person who received a Gold Hero Star or Gold Hero of Labor Star also received an officially made wearers copy of Gold Plated Brass these are marked with an "R" on the reverse. These were made at the mint using the exact same dies as for the gold pieces so there is no apparent difference in the quality of the strike. They are as scarce as the real items and go in the $125 to $170 range when you can find them. So to anyone buying a Bulgarian Hero Star check the back for the proper mint mark on the Gold version. And remember if it is marked "R" it is the official wearers copy. And never let anyone tell you the "R"is for replacement, OK. Regards, Ron:) |
10-15-2005, 01:09 PM | #4 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Posts: 1,086
|
Quote:
Matthijs, They used to make official wearer copies for Hero Stars, yours could be one of them. Copies also came in the same nice box. I'd have a jeweler to take a look at the Star. William |
|
10-15-2005, 02:19 PM | #5 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Age: 50
Posts: 153
|
Thanks William,
I'll take it to a jeweller to do a gold test on it. Quote:
__________________
Matthijs P. |
|
10-15-2005, 11:12 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Seattle WA - USA
Posts: 130
|
Matthijs,
you should be able to tell from the weight of the star whether it is a replica. A genuine Hero Star (without suspension) weighs more than 15 grams, a replica star weighs only about 8 grams. I put the award on the scale and hold the suspension in such a way that the connecting ring does not touch the loop of the star. I have never seen a highly polished replica because they are gold-plated brass and cannot be buffed to the same high sheen as a 14-karat gold star. I wonder what test a jeweler would perform to differentiate gold-plated metal from solid gold. The density (or weight) of the award is the only sure method. I have one of the first-type Hero Stars (with an elevated rim on the reverse) that has scratch marks on the back where someone was trying to determine wether the gold is just a thin plating. This cannot be recommended as test method because it leaves ugly permanent damage.
__________________
Dietrich Last edited by d-riemer; 10-15-2005 at 11:25 PM. |
10-16-2005, 06:43 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Posts: 1,086
|
Dietrich,
Also, what do you think about the loop on the Star? The stars that I've seen had much smaller ring attached to the top. William |
10-16-2005, 08:39 AM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Age: 50
Posts: 153
|
I'm going out to buy new batteries for my little mini-scale right now and let you know.
This star IS highly polished, so maybe like you say it could be genuine. And it does feel like it has quite some weight to it, so we'll see in a few hours. There is a type of electronic pen that can be used to determine if an object is solid gold or plated only as I understand it. There are also tests using acids, but obviously those are not recommended for this item!! Thanks Quote:
__________________
Matthijs P. Last edited by DutchBoy; 10-17-2005 at 03:32 PM. |
|
10-14-2005, 09:53 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Age: 50
Posts: 153
|
Thanks Ron and Rusty,
That puts my mind at ease for now. The one I just received in the mail does not have an "R" on the reverse, and it's very new and shiny, seemingly never worn, same for the case. Is it made of 23K gold, or is it lesser karat, maybe 14K or 18K? I compared it to some Kruger rands and my Lenin and the gold of the Bulgarian Hero star seems definitely lighter yellow than pure. My Hero Star doesn't have a gold mint mark on the reverse that you mention. Do they always have mint marks, or do the latest variations (which this one may be) lack it?
__________________
Matthijs P. |
10-17-2005, 03:18 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Age: 50
Posts: 153
|
So I took the piece to a jeweller in downtown Toronto, and he confirms that it IS solid gold. It is not gold plated base metal or silver. He estimates the gold content at around 10K.
So to wrap up: 13.0 grams in weight without suspension (14.9 grams with the suspension). Weight difference of 2g with other hero stars (of around 15g) could be due to 10K as opposed to 14K; Solid ca. 10K gold; Large ring; Highly polished appearance front and back; No mint marks or stamps of any kind; Around 32 mm from star tip to star tip; No signs at all that item is cast; No signs of wear at all (unissued stock?); Suspension probably brass-plated aluminum (according to jeweller); Correct case. In my opinion, if it is a fake, then it's really well done (maybe except the ring). :confused: So the conclusion is that this piece is a fake, although a really well-done one. It is underweight by 2 grams, only 10K gold instead of 14K, and has no gold stamps at all. So buyers beware!! Thanks Ron for all the info!
__________________
Matthijs P. |
Bookmarks |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Pilot-Cosmonaut Of The People's Republic Of Bulgaria. | new world | Bulgarian Titles And Prizes | 3 | 06-25-2013 10:51 AM |
Order "People's Republic Of Bulgaria". | dannybou | Bulgarian Orders | 22 | 06-07-2012 12:35 PM |
Hungarian People's Republic Star Order. | Dennie B | Hungarian Orders | 0 | 10-15-2006 03:38 AM |
People's Republic of Bulgaria Ribbons Guide | EricFG | People's Republic Of Bulgaria | 0 | 05-13-2005 03:25 AM |
WW1 / WW2 British Mark2 Combat Helmet
$235.00
US WW1 Aged Brass Trench Whistle Dated 1918
$14.99
$75.00
US WW1-1980s Military Caps One Per Purchase
$20.00
WW1 1917 1918 WOODEN AMMO BOX REPLACEMANT LEATHER HANDLE
$14.99
Authentic World War WW1 USA Gas Mask + Bag & Accessories Named Soldier W. Healey
$199.95
US WW1 Brass Trench Whistle Dated 1918 with Leather Attaching Strap
$18.99
WW1 Colt 1911 , 1911a1 Takedown Tool Screwdriver -- Blued
$19.95
US WW1 Helmet M1917 Doughboy Brodie Helmet
$86.99
WW1 WW2 Double Mag Pouch & (2) 1911 45 acp 7 round magazines & lanyard WWII
$54.94