Suspensions, Ribbons, Ribbon Bars And Order Of Precedence.

[Kirchgoens]

It wasn't a bad dream; it's reality in much of CIS (but I can't speak on Russia, Belorus, or Ukraine). I recently was offered ten serial numbered BM's. It took me a couple days to meet with the guy. In the mean time, he had sold six of them to a guy for melting who does silver jewelry. I got the four left over only because the other guy ran out of money. I asked my seller why he did that and what he thought of the loss of history. His answer was "I don't care who pays me as long as I get my money, and I really don't care about history. I just want the money." At this point, they won't melt the OG3's, ORS's, ORBL's, OLG's, and wartime OPW's because they think they can still do better. I am starting to see high-s/n'd OBH's get melted to, but not that often. The BMs, CSM's, non-numbered DL's and VL's, 1985 OPW's, and motherhood/maternity stuff are transforming into earrings and pendants faster than you can imagine.

Pray that the price of silver doesn't hike too badly, or else you'll see more and somewhat higher awards changed into hearts, rings, and charm bracelets. If that hike comes, our hobby could really become one of three groups: the guys who who started early enough, the guys who have tons of money to blow, and the rest who will live with collections of brass medals.

I guess this thread should maybe go somewhere else now that it's changed from ribbons and suspensions. I'm not sure how to use linkback though. I'll save my story of a recently broken-up (and very nice) set for another thread. It will wonderfully showcase how this stuff gets separated at the source...

...Brian