10-21-2002, 07:18 AM
Kim's point about grave robbers is excellent. I also worry about this in my collection of ancient/medieval arrow-heads and mace heads.
Nevertheless, I do find that dug items have a great deal more history, especially if the location is known. I am a great sucker for the history/human story side and I would pay more than the standard "new" price for a dug medal with a good story - not so much more that it encourages lies though. What I would really love to see/get someday is a dug order (OPW II or Red Star or Glory III) with a number that could be researched!!
On a related note, I have a dug unit banner that I greatly cherish. It is actually not a unit banner but an award banner from the Komsomol to an Artillery Unit. The story is that a unit veteran went and found it (maybe he knew where it was left ??? or maybe that is too romantic a notion) and "repaired" it - the remnants have been sewn to a neutral backing. Only the last digit of the unit number remains but I am 95% sure I have ID'ed the unit based on long research and process of elimination.
Shawn
Nevertheless, I do find that dug items have a great deal more history, especially if the location is known. I am a great sucker for the history/human story side and I would pay more than the standard "new" price for a dug medal with a good story - not so much more that it encourages lies though. What I would really love to see/get someday is a dug order (OPW II or Red Star or Glory III) with a number that could be researched!!
On a related note, I have a dug unit banner that I greatly cherish. It is actually not a unit banner but an award banner from the Komsomol to an Artillery Unit. The story is that a unit veteran went and found it (maybe he knew where it was left ??? or maybe that is too romantic a notion) and "repaired" it - the remnants have been sewn to a neutral backing. Only the last digit of the unit number remains but I am 95% sure I have ID'ed the unit based on long research and process of elimination.
Shawn
