The Problem Of Fakes, Copies And Replicas

Taz · 08-10-2004, 11:46 AM

Here are a couple of links with tips and advise on how to avoid buying Fakes etc.

http://home.golden.net/~medals/stopfakes.html

Dr. Zdzislaw P. Wesolowski, the author of several books and articles on Polish
militaria provided this article on the problem of fakes for a Polish award website.

http://home.golden.net/~medals/polishfakes.html

I hope these two links help any collectors just becoming interested in Polish awards.

Eddie.

Al-muell · 09-03-2012, 02:13 AM

Some info I got on the PRP era fakes:

Virtuti Militari - faked in all classes, almost impossible to get an original one

Polonia Restituta - 1st and 2nd classes are faked, lower are not.

Order of Merit - faked, but rarely

Grunwald Cross - faked in all classes

Cross of Merit - the Moscow-made RP version is sometimes faked, but still lot of originals available (often at ridiculous price).

Cross of the Brave 1944 - faked, but originals still available and sometimes at fair prices. Rare variants of 1944 cross offered anywhere are most likely fakes.

Meritous on the field of glory medal - 1943 "Lenino" version faked, originals almost impossible to get; 1944 version faked, but originals still available in large amounts (except for the gold one).

Partisan cross - small amounts of replicas were made, sometimes late official issues are mistaken for replicas. Originals available, esp. that many of the partisans who did not get them directly after the war for both political and neglection reasons were awarded in 70's, 80's and even 90's.

Wielkopolska and Silesia Uprising crosses - faked.

For Warsaw - there are some rare variants that are faked, but the award is still available in large quantities at fair prices.

My advice: buy faked awards only with document or even better in a documented group. NO PRP awrd docs are being faked - neither standard, nor 40's issue, nor temporary docs. However, when collecting culture in Poland changes, it will just be a matter of time, as the docs will not be hard to fake...

Tomahawk · 09-04-2012, 05:58 AM

Wow! So sad to read this... :S

08-10-2004, 11:46 AM	#1
Taz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Herford, Germany Age: 66 Posts: 2,152	The Problem Of Fakes, Copies And Replicas Here are a couple of links with tips and advise on how to avoid buying Fakes etc. http://home.golden.net/~medals/stopfakes.html Dr. Zdzislaw P. Wesolowski, the author of several books and articles on Polish militaria provided this article on the problem of fakes for a Polish award website. http://home.golden.net/~medals/polishfakes.html I hope these two links help any collectors just becoming interested in Polish awards. Eddie. __________________ Everybody's equal, But some more than others! "Those who come to us with the sword - will be killed by the sword" - Alexander Nevski

09-03-2012, 02:13 AM	#2
Al-muell Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wrocław, Poland Posts: 1,828	Re: The Problem Of Fakes, Copies And Replicas Some info I got on the PRP era fakes: Virtuti Militari - faked in all classes, almost impossible to get an original one Polonia Restituta - 1st and 2nd classes are faked, lower are not. Order of Merit - faked, but rarely Grunwald Cross - faked in all classes Cross of Merit - the Moscow-made RP version is sometimes faked, but still lot of originals available (often at ridiculous price). Cross of the Brave 1944 - faked, but originals still available and sometimes at fair prices. Rare variants of 1944 cross offered anywhere are most likely fakes. Meritous on the field of glory medal - 1943 "Lenino" version faked, originals almost impossible to get; 1944 version faked, but originals still available in large amounts (except for the gold one). Partisan cross - small amounts of replicas were made, sometimes late official issues are mistaken for replicas. Originals available, esp. that many of the partisans who did not get them directly after the war for both political and neglection reasons were awarded in 70's, 80's and even 90's. Wielkopolska and Silesia Uprising crosses - faked. For Warsaw - there are some rare variants that are faked, but the award is still available in large quantities at fair prices. My advice: buy faked awards only with document or even better in a documented group. NO PRP awrd docs are being faked - neither standard, nor 40's issue, nor temporary docs. However, when collecting culture in Poland changes, it will just be a matter of time, as the docs will not be hard to fake...

09-04-2012, 05:58 AM	#3
Tomahawk Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Spain Age: 38 Posts: 44	Re: The Problem Of Fakes, Copies And Replicas Wow! So sad to read this... :S

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