FAKE SPANISH MILITARY MEDALS        

The Spanish Royal Orders of Hermenegild, a very rare military and civil orders of the Spanish Royal Family, which are currently being faked and sold on ebay. The seller (s) have been contacted by me and refuse to delist their fakes or amend their listings, so in order to expose their cheap chinese copies, here we have yet another expose guide of these fakes for all to see. Read on and learn how to not fall for these reproduced medals and badges of this order.

The Order of Hermenegild was first issued in 1814 by the Spanish Royal family for military and civil merit, and came in the form of an enamelled cross, with a riding horse and St. Hermenegild, surrounded by a wreath of olive branches and the wording: PREMIO A LA CONSTANCIA MILITAR - which translates in English to: prize of military certainty - notice the correct spelling. A very nice and honoured award, which was awarded fewer than 6000 times between 1814 and the 1960's. Well, how might you ask does at least one notorious dealer or should I really say, peddler of fakes and reproductions, sell exactly the same medals and badges time and time again, if they are all A1 original? Good question. The answer is clear: They are all reproductions!

Take for example the Commander Neck Order version of this medal. Supposed 18 Karat gold plated, pristine/mint enamel, perfect, perfect, etc. This medal is a fake. The medal touted is indeed made of a number of pieces, including the central enamel cross and the enamelled discs. However, when you actually feel the 'tinny' material used, you will see it is a metal/plastic compostie. Just like they use on cheap sports trophies. The medal is lightweight and not maker stamped anywhere, which is very odd, given that all the originals came in a maker marked case of award and were jeweller stamped to the suspension ring. These originals sell at auction for between 600 and 800 US dollars. The fakes are being sold with a starting price of near $150 Australian Dollars.

I have included a picture of this medal below. Notice the medal is as the same as those being sold. That is because one of the sellers former clients sent me this piece they had bought and allowed me to use it here to show us all what it consists of. Notice the last pictures, which show the glued frontal plates, certainly not something a monarchy would be likely to use to reward their countries loyal servants and soldiers.

The second commonly sold fake is the breast badge of this order. Again, it is a fake and not to be bought as an original, but as a reproduction. This tacky badge is easily bendable and does again look like the original, except it is easily picked as a fake based on its poor workmanship. The badge is not 18 Karat gold plated with silver highlights as claimed, it is simply cast with different metal composite materials. There is no maker stamp as the originals always had and has a very light weight feel -something the solid silver and 9 Karat gold originals never had. These originals do sell for between 1800 and 2400 US dollars, based on 2008 auctions prices. The fakes are being sold on ebay with a starting price of just over $100 Australian Dollars. See the pictures below for a look at the faked breast badge.

Now, like all collectors, it really angers me to see, let alone think, that people can willingly list these items on ebay for sale with the real intention of selling a faked item and pass it off as an original. This is wrong and misleading and it is a trick which has caught a number of my own clients, who, all too often realise or find out that the piece they bought is simply worthless. If you visit spanish ebay or indian ebay, these are commonly sold there (however, for much less that what is being asked in this set of examples) with the only difference, the sellers either state the item is a fake or reproduction or simply say nothing. Don't be fooled with a historical description of the item and instantly think it must be a real item, because your money and confidence is at stake!

I hope this guide has been of some help to you, if it has, great, you have learnt something new and hopefully saved some money. Please vote yes for this guide if my 4 hours of sunday afternoon writing have helped you.