How NOT to Buy Fakes

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Everything gets faked ...

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If you know what to look for (in this care the suspension ring) you can spot a fake even from a low res picture.

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This concludes my brief presentation of the fake awards made from scratch. I will post some pictures of collectors copies offered for sale as genuine items later.

Alexei

[filo]

This concludes my brief presentation of the fake awards made from scratch. I will post some pictures of collectors copies offered for sale as genuine items later.

Alexei

[SergioV]

for your database here we have some pictures of fake medals
http://www.rkka.it/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=27793

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Thank you, I will check it out

Alexei

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Ok, let's show some collectors copies, that some unscrupulos dealers offer for sale as genuine items.

Some of them, like this Red Banner 2nd awarding are not that easy to tell from pictures. The main problem here is the the mint mark, but if you look closer you will see that all details (like the torch, the center rosette, etc.) are way off. It's not made out of silver and is meant as a space filler in a collection.

Alexei

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From these pictures you can guess which company markets them I have seen a lot of these copies offered for sale on our favorite on-line auction as genuine.

Alexei

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The ever so popular "official" wearers' copies that never actually existed.

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Here's a home made wearers' copy that was actually worn.

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Some copes of the Order of Suvorov 3rd class, that were sold as genuine items. I would not have posted them here, but unsuspecting collectors did actually buy them.

Alexei

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This scan was recently e-mailed to me as an example of a genuine piece. This is another copy (the mint mark should be stamped in two lines plus other problems).

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There are lots of copies of WWII Excellence badges out there...

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Genuine badge on the left, copy - on the right.

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... and let's not forget my favorite KGB badges.

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Genuine badge on the left, copy - on the right.

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Will post some more later.

Alexei

[GC*]

This fake guide of yours is a real pleasure to read and observe - mostly for somebody like me, who is everything but an expert of Soviet orders and could be easily fooled by the first unscrupolous dealer!

Thanks for that!

[Airon]

Ok, let's show some collectors copies, that some unscrupulos dealers offer for sale as genuine items.

Some of them, like this Red Banner 2nd awarding are not that easy to tell from pictures. The main problem here is the the mint mark, but if you look closer you will see that all details (like the torch, the center rosette, etc.) are way off. It's not made out of silver and is meant as a space filler in a collection.

Alexei

The first thing i see wrong on this one is the enamel.
Closer look and all the other details you pointed out pop out.
Thank you for sharing

Alexei, i take advantage of your experience one more time... what can you say about that one? It's no order/medal but maybe you already seen it.

Thanks
Airon

[andrej]

Thanks Alexei, "unfortunately" a very useful guide!

I'm quite worried about the "defense" and "capture" medals...I'm not very much in the collecting of awards and medals, but these medals (better if with their doc) are an ever interesting purchase for a collector like me...and you are saying that also the very proletarian "Victory over Germany" has been violated...

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Thanks, guys!!

[quote="andrej"...and you are saying that also the very proletarian "Victory over Germany" has been violated... [/quote]

Here are some examples for your viewing pleasure.

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Here's another example - just a collectors copy. As a matter of fact a bunch of them were manufactured with the same serial number... and sold to collectors as genuine medals.

Alexei

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The first thing i see wrong on this one is the enamel.

Airon,

You are right, the first thing I have noticed about it was the enamel, but you can see the difference because this picture was taken in proper light. Your average on-line auction listing may not show the difference.

Alexei

[Dom]

Genuine badge on the left, copy - on the right.

The right one is indeed a copy, but there are many variations with several manufacturers for this badge ( numbered or unnumbered ).

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Absolutely, but this is a subject for another research.

Alexei