Lot 471

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Description:

GERMAN MOTHER'S CROSS WITH DIAMONDS
Rare and controversial medal, the German Mother's Cross in Gold with Diamonds. The medal is 1 3/4" long, 1 5/8" wide, bearing white and blue enamel. Raised gold letters at center read "DER DEUTSCHEN MUTTER" in a circular arrangement and a gold static swastika in a white circular field at center bears 17 small diamonds inset into the arms of the swastika. The verso of the medal is engraved with a facsimile of Hitler's signature above which appears: "16 Dezember 1938", the date the decoration was instituted. The suspension ribbon present is 10mm. wide and about 28": long. There is great debate surrounding this medal, as no award certificate has yet been found corresponding to it. It is believed by some that one such medal was actually awarded in 1945, but the exact conditions of the award (bearing more than ten children, or more than 15) is unknown. It is purported that this medal appeared in a prominent reference book by John Angolia, and there are claims that records of its manufacture and award were destroyed in the fire-bombing of Dresden. A notorious militaria dealer has offered a version of this award, though of slightly different specifications. Our example has been consigned by a long-time German dealer of militaria who states that in purchasing a large quantity of "standard" Mother's Crosses from the "Deschler Hoard", he discovered this example which accompanied by the original tissue and paper tag reading "Echte Brillanten". Due to the controversy surrounding this medal, it is sold as-is, as a curiosity...or potentially one of the rarest Third Reich awards created.

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September 10, 2013 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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