Lot 1003

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Description:

ENGRAVED BAYONET AND MEDAL GROUP OF GEF. ALOYS DENTER
Extensive group of medals and accoutrements related to the World War I service of German corporal Aloys Denter, includes: Privately-purchased dress bayonet, 9 1/2" blade, 14 3/4" overall, with a "bird''s head"-style pommel and wood grips. The spine of the blade bears the etched maker''s name: "Alexander Coppel, Solingen". The obverse of the blade bears the etched presentation inscription: "Gefreiter Aloys Denter, 4./R.74" within a floral motif, while the reverse is inscribed: "Fur Erinnerung an tapferes Aushalten auf Hohe 304 am 20 August 1917" ("In Memory of Brave Endurance at Hill 304, 20 August, 1917"). This refers to a French artillery stronghold in the vicinity of Verdun, which the Germans tried unsuccessfully to capture for nearly two months before it finally fell at the beginning of May, 1916. The date seen here appears to be the date on which the bayonet was presented to Denter. The bayonet is housed in a steel scabbard with a black leather frog, which bears indistinct markings on the reverse. The blade appears to have been sharpened and shows several chips along the edge, with run marks affecting some of the engraving, else very good. The bulk of the group is taken up by a number of medals, including: 1914 Iron Cross, First Class, unmarked but for the silver content "800" on the clasp, the black lacquer considerably worn, else very good; medal bar with five medals, including the 1914 Iron Cross (Second Class), the War Commemorative Medal of the Kyffhauserbund with "YPERN" (Ypres) bar, the Prussian Land Warriors Association War Service Cross of Honor (Second Class), the Hungarian World War Commemorative Medal, and the Austro-Hungarian Karl Troop Cross, all very good; a stickpin featuring a chain of six medal miniatures, including the five in the medal bar described above as well as the Austrian War Commemorative Medal; a rare Tank Memorial Badge, solid back with pin clasp, unmarked, with some verdigris to the right-hand side, else very good; a "Deutsches Feld Ehrenzeichen" ("German Field Honors") badge with split-pin clasp, marked "Hamburg 11" on the reverse, very good; and a Wound Badge in black, showing some oxidation at the clasp, else very good. The collection is rounded out by a Hamburg Three-Mark silver coin, dated 1909, which appears to have been struck by a bullet, as well as a 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" b/w postcard photograph of a mounted soldier, with a pencil inscription on the verso identifying him as Aloys Denter. Thirteen pieces overall.

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September 14, 2017 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000